The Truth Behind the Lockheed AC-130, Better Known as ‘The Angel of Death’

Welcome to the 142nd insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we reveal the truth behind the ‘Lockheed AC-130’, breaking down the mechanics and misconceptions surrounding this brilliant feat of American engineering.

Lockheed Martin, established in 1995, is an aerospace company deriving from the merger of Lockheed Corp. and Martin Marietta. The collaborative umbrella company specializes in arms and creates many rotary and mission systems, including the famed AC-130 attack plane among other alternative models. Lockheed stands as the largest defence contractor by revenue and received nearly 10% of Pentagon funding in 2013.

Developed in 1967 prior to Lockheed Corporation's merger with Martin Marietta, the AC-130 was built upon the JC-130A 54-1626, which was originally a standardized cargo plane. Fitting the bulky silhouette with mini-guns, rotary canons, infrared sensors and a night-vision telescope, the improved design would soon become the world’s first attack iteration of the C-130. Plagued the AC-130A or Project Gunship II, seven more warplanes would be upgraded to share offensive fittings, in addition to a singular ‘Suprirse Package’ in 1969, which would sport the latest cannon advancements.

18 AC-130’s would fly in the Vietnam war, providing close air support for ground troops and air base defence. During the Eastern tenure, 5 of 18 were shot down despite their famed flare systems, which are commonly misinterpreted as missiles online. Spiralling outwards in an angelic fashion, this seemingly unique defence mechanism is intended to evade heat-seeking missiles, but is commonly found in cargo planes alike. The AC-130 is known as ‘The Angel of Death’ for its sheer lethality and impact on close warfare.

In addition, the images above, often plagued as the ‘AC-130’, actually show a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane among other C-130 mechanisms. Clearing up further misconceptions, the flares are not used to commemorate or transport fallen soldiers and are exclusive to defensive use.