The AC-130H that ditched into the Indian Ocean after the detonation of its 105mm cannon
On Mar. 14, 1993, while en route from Kenya to Somalia, AC-130H (FY-serial 69-6576, nick-named the ‘Predator’ with tactical call-sign Jockey-14) assigned to the 16th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) suffered a detonation of its 105mm cannon barrel.
The AC-130H took off from Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kenya, to conduct a routine Joint Task Force mission in support of Operation Continue Hope II.
After the explosion occurred and after having already sustained damage to the aircraft, the crew of Jockey-14 discovered additional obstacles caused by the blast.
While the front-end crew tried to regain aircraft control and make their way back to the coastline, the back-end crew fought to extinguish the fire onboard the aircraft.
Fragments from the explosion destroyed one engine on the left side of the aircraft, causing the propeller to fall off. The blast also damaged fuel and hydraulic lines to the second engine, requiring the crew to shut it down.
The crew was forced to ditch into the Indian Ocean near Milindi in Kenya where the impact caused the fuselage to break into two pieces.
Eight of the 14 crew members died in the crash while three of the crewmembers bailed out, and the pilot, copilot and flight engineer survived the ditching.
The following Jockey-14 crewmembers paid the ultimate sacrifice and were honored during the ceremony:
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- Capt. David Mehlhop, navigator
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- Capt. Mark Quam, electronic warfare officer
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- Capt. Anthony Stefanik Jr., fire control officer
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- Master Sgt. Roy Duncan, loadmaster
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- Tech. Sgt. Robert Daniel, sensor operator
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- Staff Sgt. Brian Barnes, aerial gunner
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- Staff Sgt. William Eyler, sensor operator
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- Staff Sgt. Michael Moser, aerial gunner
Honoring Jockey-14, the AC-130H that ditched into the Indian Ocean
According to Peter Baxter in his book Operation Restore Hope US Military Intervention in Somalia and the Battle of Mogadishu, 1992-1994, as far as is known, the Predator still wore the Europe 1 camouflage pattern at the time of its demise, consisting of grey (FS36118), green (FS34092) and green (FS34102), which was badly worn out by local elements.
As told by By Staff Sgt. Vernon R. Walter III, 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs, in the article AFSOC honors JOCKEY-14 crew at 30th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony, Air Commandos gathered with friends and family to honor the crew of Jockey-14 during the 30th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, on Mar, 14, 2024.
An AC-130J Ghostrider gunship from the 16th SOS, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, performed a flyover during the ceremony. The flyover represented the continuing legacy of JOCKEY-14 and honored the fallen following Air Commando tradition.
US Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Plehn, President of National Defense University, was the guest speaker for the ceremony.
“We gather today to honor the crew of JOCKEY-14—both living and dead—and we remember…with solemn pride…the lives and legacy of those JOCKEY-14 crewmembers whom we lost in the aftermath of that mission 30 years ago today,” said Plehn.
“My friends, as we mark another year since that day, we keep alive in our memory the entire crew of JOCKEY-14…for as long as we remember them…for as long as we say their names…they are still with us,” said Plehn.
Operation CONTINUE HOPE II
Operation CONTINUE HOPE II was a series of missions conducted by US Armed Forces to support the people of Somalia after climate disasters and civil unrest. The focus was to establish a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations by providing personnel, logistics, communications, intelligence support, a quick reaction force, and other elements as required.
AC-130H Spectre gunships of the 16th SOS were repeatedly deployed over Somalia, primarily from Mombasa in Kenya.
The AC-130H gunship’s primary missions were close air support, air interdiction and force protection. Missions included troops in contact, convoy escort and urban operations. Air interdiction missions were conducted against pre-planned targets or targets of opportunity. Force protection missions included air base defense and facilities defense.
The Spectre
The AC-130H’s call sign is “Spectre.” The H-model is the second generation of C-130 gunships, all of which evolved from the first operational gunship, the AC-47.
The AC-130 gunship has a combat history dating to Vietnam. All AC-130Hs started out as AC-130Es, but in the 1970s received upgraded engines, and other modifications, that led to their redesignation as AC-130Hs. Gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many life-saving close air support missions. During Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the successful assault of the Point Salines Airfield via airdrop and airland of friendly forces. The AC-130 aircrew earned the Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Award for the mission.
AC-130s also had a primary role during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 when they destroyed Panamanian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous command and control facilities. Aircrews earned the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year and the Tunner Award for their efforts.
During Operation Desert Storm, AC-130s provided close air support and force protection (air base defense) for ground forces. Gunships were also used during operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia, providing close air support for United Nations ground forces.
Operation Restore Hope US Military Intervention in Somalia and the Battle of Mogadishu, 1992-1994 is published by Helion & Company and is availble to order here.
Photo by Tom Cooper, SrA Julianne Showalter and Airman 1st Class Joseph Pick / U.S. Air Force