Model 15 S&W in the USA Air Force

I have a question: The revolver model 15 S&W was the standard issue sidearm for the USA Air Force during the Vietnam War? I mean it was the regulation handgun of this force.
Or it was it a handgun that the pilots used for their own will?

And the same question for the model 56 S&W, was it the standard issue sidearm for the USA Air Force in any moment of the history of the force?

Forgive my Bad English
Hannibal

Hannibal:

Your English is fine.

Yes, the Model 15 was adopted by the USAF in the 1960s. Some pilots are known to have carried them but they are best known in the Air Police/Security Police role.

Yes, the Model 56 was also adopted by the USAF in 1962. As a two inch barrel gun it was used by pilots, air crew, missile crews and others having need for a short barreled revolver.

Both revolvers are scarce but the M56 is very difficult to find as most were destroyed by the Air Force. Do you have examples of the USAF M15 and M56?

Hope that information helps you.

I was an Air Policeman, from 1966 to 1970 and our standard side arm was the model 15 with 4" barrel. I fondly remembered this weapon since then and finally purchased one about two years ago. Not a USAF issue, but a model 15 nonetheless. Great revolver.

Even I have two models 15 S&W (one of 2” and one of 4”) unfortunately they were not USAF revolvers.
I made the question because a friend of mine told me the combat pilots don’t have the model 15 as the standard issue sidearm, that they used just as a personal firearm, He said it was not the regulation sidearm of the pilots only the military police.

ordnanceguy said:

Hannibal:

Your English is fine.

Yes, the Model 15 was adopted by the USAF in the 1960s. Some pilots are known to have carried them but they are best known in the Air Police/Security Police role.

Yes, the Model 56 was also adopted by the USAF in 1962. As a two inch barrel gun it was used by pilots, air crew, missile crews and others having need for a short barreled revolver.

Both revolvers are scarce but the M56 is very difficult to find as most were destroyed by the Air Force. Do you have examples of the USAF M15 and M56?

Hope that information helps you.

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Hannibal Barca said:

Even I have two models 15 S&W (one of 2” and one of 4”) unfortunately they were not USAF revolvers.
I made the question because a friend of mine told me the combat pilots don’t have the model 15 as the standard issue sidearm, that they used just as a personal firearm, He said it was not the regulation sidearm of the pilots only the military police.

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As a combat aircrew from 1982, I carried the Model 15, both the 2 inch and 4 inch. I carried a 4 inch Model 15 when I deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield in 1990. While deployed, we transitioned to the M9.
In the units where I served, personally owned firearms were not allowed to be carried, although I know of some guys that did carry their own weapons. By the time of Operation Allied Force (Kosovo), it was ordered (and enforced) that personally owned firearms would not be carried.

safearm said:

As a combat aircrew from 1982, I carried the Model 15, both the 2 inch and 4 inch.

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Hello Safearm:

Thanks for your post. Can you tell me if the 2 inch barreled M15 you mentioned carrying was US or USAF marked? If so, where? Was there a dash number or was it a M15 no dash? How were the 2" M15s carried, ie shoulder holster or what?

While I was flying, I carried the M15 in a survival vest holster. The holster was designed to carry either the 2 or 4 inch model. To be honest, I never checked anything on the gun except whether it was loaded and that the serial number was correct.

safearm said:

As a combat aircrew from 1982, I carried the Model 15, both the 2 inch and 4 inch. I carried a 4 inch Model 15 when I deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield in 1990. While deployed, we transitioned to the M9.
In the units where I served, personally owned firearms were not allowed to be carried, although I know of some guys that did carry their own weapons. By the time of Operation Allied Force (Kosovo), it was ordered (and enforced) that personally owned firearms would not be carried.

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Thanks for sharing this information. It was very valuable for me.

Does anybody else want to share their experiences and information?


Hannibal

Hello
During my back-to-back tours in SE Asia (1970-1972) the 4" Model 15 I carried was issued by the USAF. It was standard for the AP/SP but was also issued to air crews and to troops (like Ammo) when pulling convoy duty.
Lots of us had personal weapons during that war also, but the official sidearm of the USAF was the S&W Model 15. I qualified for my Expert Marksmanship medal on mine.
Regards,
JP

When I served in SEA with the AF, the S&W MOD 15 4-inch was the standard sidearm issued to SP and Aircrew. Some of us had personal "survival" gear, as well. These were fine revolvers, and I purchased one (a non-USAF) 15/4inch after I returned to the states. I kept that gun for almost 40 years.
XAVMECH

First ...Welcome Home Brothers......Nam. 68 + 69.. on this our Vet's day...

When I was in the Boonies, I carried a S+W .38 snubby J frame as an 'in the belt' crowd scatterer for backup.
the gun was stamped Property of US Air FORCE. on the backstrap. I remember this clearly.(some of the other stuff is not so clear)
I bought it from a friend for $50, and sold it to another friend for $75 when I took the Freedom Bird out of that sewer.
A couple of weeks ago, I saw one used in a gun shop. $450 later, I have one in my belt again. No, it doesn't have the US etc. markings, but it's like an old friend back where it belongs. 2 inch groups at 35 feet with 4.0 Unique and a 158 RNFP. Anything in my bedroom that doesn't belong there will have a 'flashback' from me.
Went, didn't run, planted my feet, and proud of it! Ken

As an AP I pulled security at the command post at 8 TFW (F-4 Phantoms) in '66-'67; got to know a number of the pilots including Robin Olds and some others that gained prominence in later years. I paid particular attention to the sidearms carried as I was already a gun person in those days. The issue sidearm for aircrew and us was the Model 15 with 130 grain FMJ hardball ammo. HOWEVER a small percentage of the pilots did carry personally owned weapons. I did some finagling to get some .45 ACP tracer ammo for one who carried a 1911, and I do remember another that packed a BHP 9mm.

The usual holster was the USAF swivel hanger mounted holster on a web pistol belt. BUT there are always exceptions. I got away with carrying the M-15 in a cross draw spring holster which was more convenient where I worked, and I occasionally loaded the gun with my improved ammo--a 146 grain cast hollow point bullet and 12.5 grains of 2400. So even though the regs may specify what you will carry, sometimes there is a certain amount of deviation.

There were still some old Victory Models andf M2 carbines in circulation in those days, although the only ones I saw were stateside.

Never could figure out why S&W didn't make a USAF commemorative Model 15 with all the people who fondly remember them from their service time.

Here's to all the veterans tomorrow.

I was a Sentry Dog Handler with the AF at Danang AB, (366 TFW), from Nov 67 to Sept 68. Our standard issue weapon was the "M16 Submachine Gun" as it was offically called. Actually it was a XM177, the first of the shorty M16s. Collapsible stock and the barrel ended at the gas block/front sight with a huge flash suppressor screwed on the muzzle. The "M16 SMG" was issued to us the first day in country, kept with us in our hooch locker and turned in the day you left. The Model 15 was indeed the standard issue sidearm of the AF Security Police. We had the option of carrying the M15 along with a Trench Shotgun if your Dog was unable to work. The standard ammo load was 18 rounds of .38 (in a dump pouch), and 25 rounds of Brass Cased 00 buck( extra rounds were available), for the pump shotgun, mostly Model 12 Winchesters with the bayonet lug and heat shield. I usually opted for the M16 SMG. I also had a Browning HP that I had traded some 5 gallon cans of paint to a VNAF Officer for and a 1911 that a Marine friend from Khe Sahn gave me. The HP was almost useless due to the 9MM round not being US issue in those days. I had 50 rounds he gave me but resupply required more trading material. I used to carry the HP on off duty trips to China Beach and BX. The Model 15 was ultra reliable, reasonably accurate and I never felt under armed when I carried it. Stateside it was a standard duty carry for all AF K9 handlers. I have a couple of M15s sadly no AF issue models.

Bat Guano said:

and I occasionally loaded the gun with my improved ammo--a 146 grain cast hollow point bullet and 12.5 grains of 2400. So even though the regs may specify what you will carry, sometimes there is a certain amount of deviation.

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Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know much about hand loading, but isn’t it a .357 Magnum load?

Hannibal

It's more of a ".38-44" load, the predecessor to the original .357 Magnum, and a pretty stiff load, running about 1150 fps. N frame S&Ws (like the .38 Special Heavy Duty guns) would take it but normally I wouldn't try it in a K frame Model 15. I just didn't have any confidence in the military FMJ load. These were also the days before good commercial JHP or SWCHP +P loads were available...

Go to 13.5 grains of 2400 and you're definitely getting into .357 territory.

Bat Guano said:

It's more of a ".38-44" load, the predecessor to the original .357 Magnum, and a pretty stiff load, running about 1150 fps. N frame S&Ws (like the .38 Special Heavy Duty guns) would take it but normally I wouldn't try it in a K frame Model 15. I just didn't have any confidence in the military FMJ load. These were also the days before good commercial JHP or SWCHP +P loads were available...

Go to 13.5 grains of 2400 and you're definitely getting into .357 territory.

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Thanks for the information. I have read about the .38 HV caliber. A .38 Special loaded hotter than any other .38 Special that must be used in .44 N frames or New Service frames only.

My dad did two tours in Vietnam with the Air Force and he told me that in addition to the Model 15 he saw several Victory Models carried by aircrew members both officer and enlisted. I also know of a picture showing one in what appears to be an issue Hunter holster being carried by either a loadmaster or crew chief.

roundels said:

. I also know of a picture showing one in what appears to be an issue Hunter holster being carried by either a loadmaster or crew chief.

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Can you post that picture for the rest of us, please?

I was USAF Vietnam era and our issue handgun was a 4 inch Model 15. It was the first handgun I ever shot and got me started in S&W revolvers right there.
One of our guards shot himself in the leg playing quick draw and they took away the M-15s and gave us M16A1s as we were co-located with US Army.

I have one Model 15 now a civilian snubbie and it's still a great gun.

I too never paid any attention to the markings on our guns. Quite frankly I barely knew they were Model 15s as I took note since my dream was a Model 19 which was my first revolver and second handgun, first being a Ruger Mark I.

I carried one from 1983 until the M9 actually made it to us around 89 or 90.

I loved the gun, but the ammo was not confidence inspiring. Its the weird one in the middle:



I've never heard a good reason for the pushed-in bullet.