The aircrew provided close air support and precision fires to U.S. Army troops on the ground in Panama. The attack also included a series of precision strikes by F-117A Nighthawk fighter jets.
The crew of an AC-130H Phantom helicopter gunship that participated in the 1989 U.S. military intervention in Panama, known as Operation Just Cause, returns to Hurlburt Field, Florida, 35 years ago on December 20, 1989, where they departed Take off there. here we go. Four retired U.S. Air Force personnel narrated Their memory of operations conducted by the Panamanian Defense Forces, in coordination with other combined arms and air assets, to attack ground targets, including F-117A Nighthawk Stealth attack aircraft.
Facing technical, weather and time constraints, the crew accomplished their mission: Chinese Academy of Sciences (close air support) and precision fires to U.S. troops who were on the ground for five days. It was only when their military operations subsided and they met with exhausted U.S. Army Rangers that they realized the importance of support.
AC-130H_Ghost pic.twitter.com/Y8XTyoMbfS
— Glory Sky (@violetpilot1) April 14, 2022
The group gained valuable tactical, technical, operational planning and logistical experience in wartime air fire support, which they say should be shared with existing aircrews. The AC-130H Phantom aircraft itself has evolved into a mainstay of heavy air precision fire support, becoming the new AC-130J Ghost Riderwith more modern avionics equipment and weaponry.
The crew of the AC-130H Phantom gunship consists of pilot Major Phil Lebrun, Sgt. Bill Walter, main gunner, sergeant major. Low-light TV operator Bill Jackson and navigator Lt. Col. Ed Appler are now retired, but both shared their experiences in AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations Command) specials.
Deployment and Action
aeronaut January 2024 reported how the 16th Special Operations Squadron flew its final mission using AC-130H Phantoms at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. In 2013, the squadron completed its last mission AC-130H Ghost helicopter gunships deployed in Afghanistan After 40 years of active service around the world.
At dusk on December 19, 1989, five AC-130H armed helicopters took off from Hurlburt Field and headed for Panama. Walter said that these armed helicopters were loaded with as much ammunition as possible. Since each aircraft weighs up to 175,000 pounds (79,378 kilograms), the aircraft requires a “wartime emergency authorization” to be exempt from the maximum weight limit.
After takeoff, each gunship crew performed a “tune-up,” testing the weapons systems on board and then conducted aerial refueling in preparation for arrival in Panama. At that time, the U.S. Air Force used McDonnell Douglas KC-10 extenderintroduced in the mid to late 1980s, as well as the older KC-135R Stratotanker.
A formation of five armed helicopters departed from Hurlburt and flew to the Yucatan Strait between Mexico and Cuba. Walter said that despite technical problems and severe weather conditions, the helicopter gunships arrived in Panama ahead of schedule to do their part to support the more than 27,000 U.S. military personnel participating in Operation Just Cause.
The key, Lebrun said, is that they hit targets “simultaneously” because if “one attack occurs before another, the Panamanian Defense Forces will be briefed.” Each gunship crew has a number of targets planned to engage. , to provide close air support and the precision firepower of U.S. ground forces below. The targets ranged from “anti-aircraft artillery to armed vehicles and critical infrastructure, designed to disrupt enemy operations and ensure the safety of U.S. personnel.”
ghost. An AC-130H helicopter gunship from the 16th Special Operations Squadron flies over the Florida coastline. (📷SrA Julianne Showalter/Clemens Westers) pic.twitter.com/DadK0jyzyz
— JJ (@kadonkey) September 9, 2020
With the development of doctrine at the U.S. Air Force LeMay Center report During Operation Just Cause in February 2024, Special Operations Forces airborne strikes were part of a “coordinated forcible entry” of strategic installations in Panama. U.S. Army Rangers, Special Forces and XVIII Airborne Corps soldiers boarded C-130, C-141 and C-5 aircraft at multiple locations across the United States and flew directly to the Central American country.
The attack began with a series of damaging, diversionary and precision strikes by EF-111A Ravens and F-117A Nighthawks. According to the report joint historical office Under the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Air Force's aircraft composition and numbers include two EF-111s for jamming, six EC-130s, eight AC-130 attack helicopters, six F-117 stealth fighter-bombers and Other aircraft of the 1st Special Operations Wing. Most of these units are from the 830th Air Division.
During the operation, the crew worked tirelessly to load and fire the aircraft's munitions 20mm, 40mm and 105mm cannon. Sgt. bill jackson oneC-130 hours The low-light TV operator remembers that when they “first started filming,[they]just started shooting.” “The minutes passed and it felt like only seconds,” he added. For Jackson and Lt. Col. Ed Appler, Operation Just Cause marked their first hostile engagement.
The crew had “no time to think about the battle” and could only “focus on doing their jobs.” “We don't want to let our teammates down,” Appler said. Veterans explained that the helicopter gunship crew ended up flying for up to 18 hours, providing critical support to ground forces below.
About five days later, the results and significance of their actions became apparent on the ground in Panama, where Jackson recalled seeing dozens of men “covered in dirt and exhausted.” U.S. Army Rangerssome of whom stood up and shook hands with the helicopter gunship personnel. “They say we saved their lives,” Jackson explained. “I got chills down my spine shaking hands with them.”
Postoperative evaluation
As JHO of CJSC pointed out, like AC-130H Phantom Other naval and ground heavy weapons under OPLAN 90-2 are subject to “precise rules of engagement (ROE) and may not attack hospitals, schools, churches, museums and historical monuments.” Exceptions are made when these facilities are used by enemy forces.
AC-130s and F-16s were also tasked by COMJSOTF (Commander Joint Special Operations Task Force) Maj. Gen. Downing to intercept the plane of the country's current ruler, Gen. Manuel Noriega, as he attempted to escape. The aircraft was spotted by an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft which forced it to land. The AC-130s also needed to attack Noriega's hideout.
recall
In the hours leading up to December 20, 1989, the group recalled preparing for the mission while keeping it a secret from their friends and family. “Nobody knew we were leaving. It all looked like a big training exercise, but we knew,” said Sgt. Bill Walter.
Today, as the crew reflects on the memories of Operation Just Cause, they not only relive the mission, but they also teach the lessons learned to the next generation of gunship crews at Hurlburt Field.
LeBrun noted that ultimately, all gunship crews have the same mission, adding that it is important for them to share experiences with existing crews. “If you take a life and almost die, it stays with you forever. Everyone handles it differently. But, we're all trained to do our jobs with vigor,” LeBrun said.
