S&W's in the Air Force

[Critch]

I was in the regular USAF in the early 1970s. I was a nuclear weapons specialist. Anytime we were moving special weapons outside, we had to be armed...this was generally a Model 10 or a Model 15 with a 4 inch barrel.

But, one pistol I remember real well, that I never got to shoot, was a snub-nose, K-frame, square-butt model...neat looking little pistols. Being the weapons storage area, many small arms were stored there when not needed by the security police (sky cops) and the aircrewmen. There were a number of these snubbies, some were round butt, and some were square butt.

I know the USAF had some aluminum frame S&W's, but I don't think our base had any. All we had was choppers anyway.

 

[murphydog]

The 2" K frame, if it had an adjustable sight, was probably a model 56 - a unicorn today.

 

[JP@AK]

I doubt the one in the picture (or one seen by Critch), would have been a Model 56. Those were produced in the very early 1960s in the K500000 range. Among other issues, they would have had diamond stocks.

It is entirely possible that SAC had some 2" Model 15 revolvers in the 1970s, so that is probably what Critch remembers. The Model 15 was our standard sidearm during the period he mentions. As a member of a munitions squadron, I carried a 4" Model 15 during my two years in SE Asia.

When not in country, several times I drove escort for special weapons convoys. I was wearing a 4" Model 15 on my belt and the Airman riding "shotgun" with me was carrying an M16.

We also know there were lots of 2" Model 10 revolvers in the Army and USAF inventory during that time. But, of course, those would have had fixed sights.

 

[Critch]

I remember some Model 10s (or earlier variant) in our armory that were marked US ARMY.

 

[Truckman]

I was in the regular USAF in the early 1970s. I was a nuclear weapons specialist.

Possibly your AFSC was 463?...Mine was 462 in Weapons Release......Ben

 

[Critch]

Yep, 46350 for 4 years, got out, went to college, went back in the Missouri Air Guard as a 461...IYAAYAS.

I think a 3 inch Model 13 with boot grips would be a great carry gun.

 

[Alk8944]

I remember some Model 10s (or earlier variant) in our armory that were marked US ARMY.

Those were probably guns that were in possession of the USAAF before it became the Airforce in 1947.

murphydog and jack: Critch never said the 2 inch revolvers he saw had adjustable sights, just that he saw/remembers 4" model 10s and 15s and also some 2" guns!

 

[JP@AK]

jack: Critch never said the 2 inch revolvers he saw had adjustable sights, just that he saw/remembers 4" model 10s and 15s and also some 2" guns!

Yes. That's precisely why I mentioned both the 2" Model 15 and the 2" Model 10. Covering both bases. Then clarified that, contrary to the picture, the Model 10 was a fixed sight unit.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

...IYAAYAS.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ha!

 

[Truckman]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ha!

That definitely stirs up memories for an old Weapons Release man!...AFSC 46250 1966-69......Ben

 

[Slufstuff]

I was a 46250 armaments technician from 1979 to 1982 working on the A-7D Corsair II (SLUF). Then went to USAF OTS and served as a munitions officer from 1982-1987, supporting F-16's and F-15's.

Here are pictures of my USAF Model 56, Model 15's, and a Vietnam era Model 10-5 US marked, most likely US Army issue. I have factory letters on all 5, they are all legitimate US weapons.

IYAAYAS

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Way back, in my Puppy Dog Days.
I was selected to go on a ROTC Trip, in a real AF Airplane!
A C-47. We flew down to Barksdale AFB, near Shreveport.
There was a full B-47 Wing there and they had just started pulling Nuclear Alert.
So we went out to visit the Alert Force. They were in trailers out at the end of the runway.
We were told we couldn’t ask about weapons, targets, routes, etc.
How’s the food? What did you have for breakfast?
These guys were wearing their revolvers. Later, in my day ours were locked in the mission box in the plane.
So the conversation quickly shifted to guns.
I’m thinking hard, but I think they had some of those alloy frame guns.
Here’s a B-47 Guy carrying his. Its snapped under the waist adjustment tab.

 

[Slufstuff]

I’m thinking hard, but I think they had some of those alloy frame guns.
Here’s a B-47 Guy carrying his. Its snapped under the waist adjustment tab.

It looks like a round butt M13 Aircrewman revolver. What I find interesting is he is using a standard USGI 4-inch revolver belt holster, rather than a USAF Aircrewman holster.

 

[daveboy]

Possibly your AFSC was 463?...Mine was 462 in Weapons Release......Ben

Agh, Weapons! I was a 462 from 75-95.

 

[daveboy]

You guys are speaking my language...462s, 461s, Armament, 463s, special weapons, etc. I was an Armament Tech (462) for many years. We were trained to break out our own special weapons (nukes) and to convoy them. Usually, we never did that because we were busy actually loading the aircraft. But, I digress. I had to qualify on the M-16 and the shotgun. I was only ever issued a shotgun when transporting the weapons. I never shot "expert" with the M-16 or with the shotgun. However, at the end of my twenty year career I was given the opportunity to qualify on the S&W .38. Finally got my expert ribbon with that.

 

[murphydog]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ha!

Ok, you have to tell us what that long acronym means, if it doesn’t violate Forum guidelines. Please?

 

[Truckman]

Ok, you have to tell us what that long acronym means, if it doesn’t violate Forum guidelines. Please?

Just speaking as an old weapons grunt, it would definitely violate forum standards...However, Google can still be your friend......Ben

 

[Birdhunter6]

Thank you all for your service.

A close friend was a Vietnam era Air Police vetran.

Last year he asked to come to the range to shoot a J snub he bought for CC. Remembering his stories, I brought a Combat Masterpiece and an M1 carbine.

He grinned from ear to ear, and shot my guns more than his own.

 

[FPrice]

Ok, you have to tell us what that long acronym means, if it doesn’t violate Forum guidelines. Please?

If You Ain't..... (figure out the rest by yourself)

 

[murphydog]

If You Ain't..... (figure out the rest by yourself)

Without Google I figured out everything except for the A after the first Ain't...