25 Dec 1998 My Dad was a loadmaster on an AC-47 gunship, which was shot down during hostilities. 23 Aug 2004 I would be interested to hear from anyone related to any of his crew members. From his son, John Norton mrmrs.norton@comcast.net

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall In early 1967 night attacks on isolated hamlets and outposts were a continuing problem. The AC-47 gunships were very effective in providing cover - they could stay on station a long time and had immense firepower - but their very effectiveness made them a high-priority target for the NVA and Viet Cong forces. On the night of 28/29 March 1967, a "Puff" gunship (AC-47D tail number 44-76534) of the 4th Air Commando Squadron detachment at Danang was dispatched to help defend an outpost near Hoi An, about 10 miles south of Danang. The aircraft's crew consisted of Capt William H Hosea Capt Herbert C Rice Capt John B Cabana SSgt John L Brim SSgt James L Fields TSgt Guy J Brungard A1C Robert E Ruonavaara The aircraft arrived over target and established its orbit, but was hit by intense automatic weapons fire and crashed a few miles from Hoi An. All seven crewmen died in the crash.

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