I am a retired USAF pilot and started by flying career in Nam in 1969 as a forward air controller (FAC) flying Cessna O-1's in the Delta. We were issued M-16's and 38's to fly with. I would like to get a 38 like the one I carried in Nam as a memento. I know the AF issued model 10's and I believe 14's but I believe the 14's were issued to security personnel. Does anyone know for sure which model and series I would have been issued in 1969. Thanks for any assistance you can offer.

My guess would be a Model 10-5 38 Special with a 4 inch tapered barrel in blue finish.

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Dr. B

I too think it was a Model 10, probably Parkerized. Smiths were great revolvers and while they lack the firepower that cops now need to defend against multiple adversaries, those Model 10s make great HD guns and I regret not buying my dad's Model 10 when he decided to sell it.

In 1969 the 10-5 was the commercial Model 10 variety being made. However, military personnel might be issued a gun that's been in service a long time. It may have been a Victory Model from WW II. Do you recall if it had a ring on the butt?

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No life story has happy end.

Air-Force issued Model 10's would be news to me. Mind you, I'm not an AF veteran, just someone who has followed the various discussion threads about AF revolvers here over the past years relatively closely. Besides the USAF-marked Model 15, most commonly discussed, the above-mentioned WW II leftover Victory models which the Air Force inherited from the Navy in sizable numbers and which were definitely still in active service at the time of Vietnam, would be the second suspect.

Here is a thread as an example. The consensus for the standard AF issue among veterans of the period seems to be the Model 15, 4" barrel:

Model 15 S&W in the USA Air Force

Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to learn. And thank you for your service in Vietnam. I personally can't help, but I'm sure help will arrive soon! Good luck in acquiring that special personal momento from your service.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

Bomber43
As a fellow AF 'Nam vet, I had to laugh at your handle relative to the Cessna Birddog you were flying down south.

As for your issued revolver, I rather doubt it was a Model 10. I always carried an issued Model 15, but I knew tons of guys who carried the fixed sight revolvers and the vast majority of them (in fact the only ones I personally recall) were old Victories or otherwise pre-model M&Ps. I know we had them in abundance at the Tan Son Nhut armory.

Did you spend your entire tour in IV Corps?

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

The gun I was given to shoot at Fairchild AFB was a Model 10. I remember very clearly it had fixed sights not adjustable. Also I remember the revolvers were a mix of standard barrels, and heavy barrels. Some were in pretty good shape while others looked like they had been dragged 20 miles down a gravel road.

Jack I was in IV Corps my whole tour, all of it in the 44th Special Tactical Zone. Spent 6 months at Chi Lang just south of the Cambodian border and 6 months at Cao Lanh on the Mekong river. I was assigned to the 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron. Flying the Birddogs was interesting to say the least. What did you do?

SaxonPig my 38 was blued and did not have a laynard ring. Thanks guys

First tour - Munitions; finning & fusing, mostly for II Corps, but sometimes III Corps (Bien Hoa).

Second tour - EOD ('71 - '72)

Got the Cross of Gallantry for my second tour and didn't find out until more than 30 years later, when a guy from my outfit contacted me. Weird surprise after all those years.

Welcome home!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

BTW - I knew some guys in the 21st TASS. Maybe if I ponder it a bit, I can recall some names. Long time ago.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Jack in 1970 the 22nd TASS moved from Bien Thuy to Bien Hoa. Got to fly a couple of missions with the A-37's call sign Dog and F-100 who I believe we're Blade. One of my classmates from pilot training flew with the Dogs in the 8th and I would stay with them when I came up to Bien Hoa.

You probably had a M-15 Combat Masterpiece, the std. USAF preferred issue then. Blue finish? Target hammer and trigger? No lanyard ring? M-15. Various dash numbers, depending on when made.

Army pilots had M-10's and some had heavy barrels. There were shortages, and all sorts of S&W .38 Special on the K-fame with four-inch barrels were probably in inventory. Some had round butts, on the M-10's.

Some snubs were issued, some Airweight, but I think to Army pilots. AP Investigators had Colt snubs, often with hammer shrouds, and maybe Chief's Specials. OSI agents had some, and I worked with one who wore a standard four-inch M-15 under his coat. His holster and belt were poorly chosen for concealed carry, and I referred him to Chic Gaylord for better leather. The outline of his gun was pretty obvious.

I knew fellow AP's who were stationed at Fairchild AFB and said they sometimes carried snub .38's, probably M-56's, the USAF predecessor to the snub M-15, which was then also added to the S&W commercial line. Both of those fellow cops complained that the snubs were harder to qualify with than the four-inch barrels.

Some personnel in missile silos also had snubs. SAC Elite Guard AP's had nickeled Victory Models that were given fake stag grips. These may have been replaced in time by nickel M-15's.

Only shooting teams had the six-barreled M-14. However, one of my officers carried one that he bought on his own. That was allowed for commissioned officers then.

USAF Security Police 1971 - 1980 (later, JAG 1985-1996)
As stated above, most likely a Model 15. My first sidearm was a Victory Model that was quickly replaced with a Model 15.

I still have some of my old weapons cards. Two of my issue revolvers were 15-2s. One was a 15-3. Don't recall for the others but they were all 15s.

Did your revolver look like this?

I believe that is right. As I recall, by that time the only F-100s in country were for FAC service. The fighter-bomber role had been completely taken over by the Phantoms.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Very cool. Wish I still had some of mine.
I did recently come across my driver card!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

+1. USAF as far as I know were issuing M-15 Combat Masterpiece 4 inch revolver. Never heard of M-10s being issued.
Howard

What's that item that looks like an abbreviated badge with a star above it? Never saw that one.

Security Police Qualification Badge (also referred to as a function badge or occupation badge).
The badge was worn above the ribbons and was awarded based on number of years as a SP. The Master badge had a star and wreath, the Senior badge had a star and the basic badge had neither of the above.

I had 9 years as a SP, therefore wore the Senior badge.

Thanks, I left in 1967 and didn't see them. Blue beret was just being introduced. I never got one.