USAF's Stinger II gets third life

On 19 October 2020, an AC-130W Stinger II from the 16th Special Operations Squadron/27th Special Operations Wing arrived at Sheppard AFB (TX).

The Stinger II Gunship, also affectively named the Spectre, with serial number 88-1303 flew for the last time from Cannon AFB (NM) to Sheppard AFB. The aircraft will become a new ground instructional trainer for ammo and armament students in the 363rd Training Squadron as well as for crew chief students in the 362nd Training Squadron.

Officially labeled as Tail No. '1303', the Hercules derived aircraft was received from the Lockheed-Martin factory on 6 June 1989. The Hercules was originally built as a C-130H, and was active with the 130th Airlift Squadron (WV ANG) from 1989 until 2005. In 2007, the transporter flew for a short period with the 189th Airlift Squadron (ID ANG). Starting in September 2008, the aircraft was converted to MC-130W at Robins AFB (GA).

Being an MC-130W "Dragon Spear" model with the original nickname of ‘City of Hurricane’, it served in multiple, varying mission sets including critical supply drops into Bosnia, transportation of Special Forces during Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom, humanitarian missions providing relief for Hurricane Katrina, and refueling duties for the 73rd Special Operations Squadron. In 2012 '1303' was converted into an AC-130W.

With this first AC-130W being retired from operational duty, it is expected that more 16th SOS/27th SOW Stinger IIs will be flown soon to the 309th Aircraft Maintenance And Regeneration Group, also known as the Davis Monthan storage boneyard, situated near Tucson (AZ).

The AC-130W is being replaced by a new generation of gunships. At this moment more new generation AC-130J "Ghostrider" models become available for the USAF.

Photos: USAF