Not Airforce, I was an army MP from 1983-1986 and was issued a M1911A1 made by Colt in 1943, forty years before I joined the army 😉 There was very little finish left on the pistol but I easily shot 100’s at the range, putting all 50 rounds into a hole about the size of a grapefruit. I didn’t get very good quality training from the army in those days with the pistol but learned my technique from reading guns and ammo magazines and articles from men like Colonel Jeff Cooper. I was fortunate enough to find a surplus army colt that is about 4000 pistols in serial number difference from my army issued colt. I have better pistols now like the P320 Sig chambered in.357 Sig, but old slab sides will always hold a special place in my heart. I was only 18 when I started carrying one as a MP with the 5th MP company.
@g.a.duncan3608
Жыл бұрын
I probably did pistol range in the army with your pistol in the 80s
@williamcramer7780
Жыл бұрын
Well Joey, I was an Army MP 20 yrs earlier than you. My first instruction on the 1911A1 was at Fort Gordon & like you said, it wasn’t the best. I shot 100 rounds & 50 in black were required to qualify. Classmate Kenny shot at my silhouette by mistake & with 51 holes I qualified while his target without holes got him recycled. He caught up with my in the 56th MPs in Anchorage. I sought out extra training & shot in the Alaska Police Pistol Competition, where I placed in the top 10 two years in a row. I went TDY to CDI and was issued a 2" S&W .38. I was better with the 1911A1.
@adamfrazer5150
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing man, my grandfather was an MP with the British 8th. I'm guessing he likely had to make do with a Webley.....I hope, at least 🤔 👍🍻🇨🇦
@jennifernichols9468
Жыл бұрын
Semper FI soldier. USMC 88-92
@uncleTedK
Жыл бұрын
You are probably one of the last people to have a .357 Sig chambered handgun.
@cheesenoodles8316
Жыл бұрын
Excellent.... My father served in the Air force in the 50s, no pistol issued but he purchased a surplus 1911A1. About 10 years ago a neighbor/friend noted he was Air Force veteran..Air Police and just before he deployed the 1911A1 was replaced with the revolver. He lamented ..never got to shoot the 45. Fixed that, took him to the range with my Dad's 45. He scored very well and likes the 45. This is a great video full of details.
@harrynethken4108
Жыл бұрын
Y&g hth try
@josephbingham1255
Жыл бұрын
I'm glad you were able to help him experience something he felt he missed out on. If you live in California the range likely asked for ID on you and the gun. What do you think they do with that information? Throw it away as soon as you leave? It goes into a data base that California accesses on its residents.
@adamfrazer5150
Жыл бұрын
Good looking out for him man - using your father's weapon is really meaningful 👍
@dingo5208
Жыл бұрын
Fun fact: Singer manufactured a very few Browning Hi Power's after the fall of the factory at the same time Inglis was manufacturing them.
@oxfordweddingpiper
Жыл бұрын
Singer? the sewing machine makers?
@dingo5208
Жыл бұрын
@@oxfordweddingpiper yep
@oxfordweddingpiper
Жыл бұрын
@@dingo5208 Bloody hell...Many thanks
@gordonrambow7193
Жыл бұрын
If you have one, you are sitting on a gold mine!
@dingo5208
Жыл бұрын
@@gordonrambow7193 unfortnately, no such luck.
@oldcop18
Жыл бұрын
I carried the Model 15 revolver as standard issue from my PD in the ‘70s. It’s the Cadillac of the S&W .38 line of revolvers.
@tonyv8925
Жыл бұрын
In my younger days I worked as a bank courier. I carried the Model 15 with 4" barrel and target trigger (because of my small fingers). Excellent firearm. Second only to the Model 14. I also carried the 3" barrel model 36 for plainclothes work.
@roosternm6830
Жыл бұрын
I loved my issue Model 10 when I first started with DoD police. A year after I started we switched to the M9. I was crushed.
@mayberrygary25
Жыл бұрын
SP from 1979 to 1985. Issued sidearm was the S&W model 15 Combat Masterpiece, 38 spl. USAF engraved on the left lower frame. ALL USAF model 15s were fully equipped by S&W with Target triggers (wide, grooved), Target hammers (wide), White outline rear blade sights and Red Ramp front sight blades. USAF issued both Bright Blue and later, Parkerized finishes. I was fortunate to have a newer Bright Blued one with a typical for the era SLICK double action trigger pull ! Ammo was usually Winchester 130 grain Ball FMJ. During my time, the ammo was loaded to very high pressures, likely +P+, as the projectile was set back into the casing and crimped. I was told that this ammo was spec'd this way to penetrate aircraft bodies if needed. I never felt underarmed with the Model 15, but we knew that ammo would hit hard, but zip right through a human body.
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your service, were you an MP as a Law Enforcement Specialist or Security Specialist? I know the Model 15 was issued to the Law Enforcement Specialists a lot, but were they commonly issued to the Security Specialists as well? I assume you were an MP since you were issued one of these, lol.
@gregkamer3754
Жыл бұрын
In the 1980’s, while serving in the US Air Force, I was selected to attend the hit probability test of the 9mm pistols being considered at Ft. Benning Georgia. The object of this test was to see how well novice shooters would perform with each of the weapons being submitted for consideration by different firearm companies. I think I was selected based solely on the fact that I was a left handed shooter who wore glasses while firing. The first weapon we fired was the 1911 A-1. That was the control pistol. After countless rounds being fired with that weapon, we would field strip it, clean it, reassemble it and then write a report answering questions related to those tasks. Then each day we were taken to the firing range where we where handed an ammo box containing the weapon we would be testing that day. We did not know until we opened the box what weapon we would have. We were first taken to a familiarization range where we would load and fire the weapon just to become familiar with its operation. I don’t recall how many rounds we fired on that range but it was a lot. Then we moved to the hit probability range. On that range targets would randomly pop up at various distances from the shooter. The target would only remain visible for a few seconds at most and then pop down out of site. We would fire at whatever target appeared. Unlike a qualification range, hits on the targets were electronically recorded and we never knew if we hit the target or not. Again we fired tons of rounds on that range. At the end of the day we would again fill out a report comparing the tasks we performed on the 1911 with the weapon we just tested. On the day that I tested the Beretta 92F, I was pretty sure it was going to be the winner. The weapon felt prefect in my hand, not too heavy, not too light. It felt perfectly balanced and I just loved everything about it. Unfortunately I ended up retiring from the Air Force before the weapon came into service at my base. I have to admit that was one of the best temporary duty assignments I ever lucked into in my 20 year career. Not to mention the Army threw one hell of a good after program party for us.
@NOT-FINANCIAL-ADVICE.
Жыл бұрын
Great story thanks for sharing
@dougmcgrawgg7166
Жыл бұрын
I was an MP in the army from 1973 to 76. We all carried 1911A1. If you shook them they all rattled like a bag full of separate parts. It never failed to function properly no matter how muddy it got. It broke my heart when the Army went from 1911A1s to the Beretta 9mm. I've never heard of Beretta working flawlessly after being overly used and abused for 60 plus years. All the other can only dream.
@kevingerrard7658
Жыл бұрын
I was an SP in the 70s and 80s and I carried the .38 Model 15 SW . We called it the Pea Shooter.
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, were you a Security Specialist or a Law Enforcement Specialist?
@steveb6103
Жыл бұрын
My father was a Hellcat pilot in WW2. He was given a 1911A1 to carry on missions. He found that the salt air turned it into a single shot. He carried his dad's M1917 for most of the war. I have both in my collection.
@mikeholland1031
Жыл бұрын
He should have tried cleaning and oiling it.
@TechnicallyJustin
Жыл бұрын
@@mikeholland1031 Well why didn't you tell him? You talk like you were there...
@mikeholland1031
Жыл бұрын
@@TechnicallyJustin I would have if I was there. Seems like a 10yr old would know this though.
@TechnicallyJustin
Жыл бұрын
@@mikeholland1031 Yes I'm sure a ten year old in 1940 would know how to clean and oil a firearm to today's standards... Your intelligence isn't really showing here
@wjsprayberry
Жыл бұрын
John Sprayberry Excellent video. USAF Air Police/Security Police 1962-1974, AFOSI 1974-2001.
@larryjohnson7591
Жыл бұрын
In 1978, flight crews on C=130's carried the 2" S&W with US. Air Force stamped on the handle. 1988 they were issuing the Model 15 S&W 4" barrel for stateside. In 1989 we were issued M-9 Baretta's for sidearms. My M-16 was the original Air Force model that was not an A-1 and had no forward assist or anything.
@adamcuneo7189
7 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, were those 2 inch S&Ws .38 Special Model 10s?
@russell6341
Жыл бұрын
My dad flew P-51's out of England during the war and somewhere he got his hands on a Browning hi-power in 9mm and carried it through his service I asked why and was told if he went down and needed more ammo there was a lot more 9mm than .45 and the beginning and he liked the weight of it
@texan-american200
Жыл бұрын
BHP, to me at least, is among the best sidearms of WW2 and beyond.
@thatfeeble-mindedboy
Жыл бұрын
Your dad’s service remains to be greatly appreciated by many of us, and it is a credit to you that you remind us all of it, even if it is mentioned as anecdotal information about an indirectly related topic. Thank you for sharing. I wonder if guys like he, after decades of (relatively) unexciting lifestyle of a typical civilian man in the 50’s and 60’s - husband, father, ‘guy-I-work-with’, Sunday School teacher, who wouldn’t hurt a fly, would still have moments of staring into the distance and thinking about some moment in his past when his own heart-pounding, sweaty-palmed reality was one of bringing one of the most powerful machines of that day to bear and place a Bf-109 in the cross-hairs, and squeezing a trigger that unleashed six, .50 caliber Browning machine guns so powerful they made his mighty machine buck and stagger, and walk the stream of tracers to an enemy that wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if given the chance. Maybe for a split second he can see, hear, smell, and feel that reality in full fidelity, but is instantly gone, and irretrievable, distant, faded, and unfathomably FOREIGN, that he thinks to himself “wow, did that really happen to ME? … did I really DO that? Me? Little me, the same ME that’s right here, right now?” and finding it hard to believe himself? Maybe he still even has dreams, nightmares, with all their transient “real-ness” and clarity, all from something so long ago.. These are the ponderous “trophies” countless combat veterans carry to their last day on earth, and in their last cogent thoughts. All because they did their duty, they stood to their task when their name was called. Anyone wondering why I assign such superhuman status, and feelings of overwhelming indebtedness and gratitude to ANY and ALL veterans - well, there’s your answer. “… no greater LOVE hath a man, than he would lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 (my paraphrase)
@mikeholland1031
Жыл бұрын
Not the same as German 9mm
@texan-american200
Жыл бұрын
@@mikeholland1031 "Not the same?" How? Even the Germans used the BHP as the allies and they're both in 9mm...
@mikeholland1031
Жыл бұрын
@@texan-american200 won't chamber. Different rounds.
@greenkeeper448
Жыл бұрын
I served in the Air Force and some of my time was spent as an SP. I know the Air Force is well armed. I have marveled at the guns the Air Force received throughout the years.
@texan-american200
Жыл бұрын
You must be one of the younger Air Force members. I still remember that the Air Force Chiefs of Staff were incredibly stingy with arming the ground and air crews. We were still issued early Vietnam War era weapons like the GAU-5A/A and the S&W Model 15 .38 spcl revolver. Many times, except for the always reliable but puny S&W, they continually broke down, jammed, etc... Thankfully, the newer higher ups woke to this travesty and started arming the ground crews properly.
@tellyintokyo
Жыл бұрын
@@texan-american200 I am a young one, sir. I retired US Army in 2008. Thank you for you service, sir. Drive on! #HooAH!
@5055hunter
Жыл бұрын
@@texan-american200 This was my experience as well. Stationed in W. Germany in the early 80's, (SP also) carried the M15 as a desk sergeant and the GAU-5A when on gate duty. Still had the M15 when I PCS'd stateside to Malmstrom, missile duty. I did love my AF M16 though! I have since built a semi-auto replica that I shoot often.
@GM8101PHX
Жыл бұрын
I served with the 92nd Security Police Squadron, once promoted to Staff Sergeant I was assigned a .38 pistol. We had nuclear weapons present so we were authorized to shoot first, ask questions later. We thankfully never had to shoot anyone, that came later in 1994 someone went nuts at the base hospital, he was shot dead by Security Police!! We also had the M-60 machine gun and the M-203 40mm grenade launcher mounted breach on the M-16 rifles. We even had a Browning M-50 machine gun available should we need more firepower.
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
@@GM8101PHX Thank you so much for your service, was your .38 a Model 15?
@timblack6422
Жыл бұрын
I served while we shifted from .38 revolver to the M9. Good move. The 38s we had were just plain wore out
@Thomasnmi
Жыл бұрын
They were pretty loose
@elifoust7664
Жыл бұрын
I served in MP corp, 1974-77,I was issued 1911a1 from Ithaca, Rem Rand most units.,While stationed at Ft.Campbell,K-9 unit was issued M-10 M andP ,ease of action while walking K-9.
@shadowwolf9503
Жыл бұрын
I served with my local Army National Guard Field Artillery Unit, 82-88, stationed in Evansville, Indiana. My 1st summer camp was at Campbell. And we had most of our weekend drills there- firing our 105mm howitzers. I qualified at Campbell once a year with my M-16A1 and my M-60. I had alot of good times there, a lot of good memories !
@brentp1630
Жыл бұрын
This is an enormous amount of work and information. Thank you for putting this together. I learned a lot!
@daffidavit
Жыл бұрын
See Star Trek: The Original Series no. 22 or so, "Tomorrow is Yesterday" where Kirk and Sulu had to beam down to a 1960s AF Base well inside and into the camera/records room where officer Finelli and his guards used either .38 specials or S&Ws instead of 1911s as part of their uniforms. Gene Roddenberry certainly did his homework for the uniforms designed for the Airmen at the time, IMHO.
@ratlips4363
Жыл бұрын
When I was in the USAF, CCT, many of our guys carried the Smith & Wesson Model 60 .357 Magnum in a shoulder holster. It pissed off everyone outside of the unit because we wore them on the outside of our fatigues in plain sight
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, were those Model 60s issued by the Air Force, or were they sent to them by their family or friends? Also, what was the load you guys carried? Did you guys carry .357 or .38?
@SharpsShtr
Жыл бұрын
Concerning pilots carrying privately owned firearms during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, I can confirm that my squadron (the 336th TFS) did in fact allow this. There were a number of Glocks, a Smith & Wesson auto in 10mm, a Colt Single Action Army, and probably a few other makes that I can't remember.
@adamfrazer5150
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this - it's one of those questions that seems to come up, nice to know that it's subjective but is allowed 👍
@adamcuneo7189
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for your service sir, were there any .38 Special revolvers carried? I heard those were really common with pilots.
@SharpsShtr
3 ай бұрын
@@adamcuneo7189 The .38 Special revolvers was what was issued by our squadron, and likely the rest of the wing. Colts I believe. They were old and had not been inspected or maintained well. Upon return stateside after the war one was found to be non-functional. This is one reason I and others carried personal weapons. Other units may have had different sidearms for their aircrew. The F-117 crews out of Khamis Mushayt were armed with Beretta 92FS (militarily the M9).
@adamcuneo7189
3 ай бұрын
@@SharpsShtr That's really interesting, it's amazing how they were still issuing old Colt .38s at that time, they were probably 50 years old by then, what personal weapon did you choose to carry?
@reddevilparatrooper
Жыл бұрын
I love the Model 15s. They are fantastic revolvers for target shooting. Lots of police departments had these all the way up to the 1980s.
@Mondo762
Жыл бұрын
Originally named the Combat Masterpiece. Before Smith & Wesson gave them model names.
@unappreciatedtreehouse821
Жыл бұрын
My father was stationed at DaNang AB Vietnam 1968. He was a communication repairman. His duties required him to climb telephone poles, some located in town and outside the base. Working in three man teams one man would be armed with a M16 and acted as guard for the others and their maintenance vehicle. Meanwhile the two other airmen wore 38spl revolvers along with their tool belts, making necessary repairs.
@danaoneal1
Жыл бұрын
So I was in Air Force Basic Training in 1980 and we used the original LeMay M-16, no forward assist. They also had a .22 LR conversion and jammed pretty badly. Didn’t touch another firearm as I worked on the flight line refueling aircraft for my first four years. Cross-trained into electronics and was assigned to a Combat Communications Group. First handgun I qualified on was the Model 15 revolver, then of course the M-16 still the old no forward assist model. Then when the M9 was adopted, had to qualify with it. Only time I picked up a handgun from the armory was when we had to get crypto from the vault. When playing games, which we did a lot, if not assigned to your equipment, real world security was the best detail. We picked up all the M-16s and blanks to issue for the games but we carried live ammo and wore an armband to indicate we had live ammo. No teargas or flash bangs were throw at us.
@tedwright1380
Жыл бұрын
I was in Basic in "79" these days the AF focuses on crosstraining in bathroom choice instead of destruction of the enemy.
@user-co2wo7ej2f
Жыл бұрын
I remember qualifying with those dang 22 conversion kits in 87'. They were terrible!
@jonniez62
Жыл бұрын
@@tedwright1380 you would be wrong.
@robertbenson9797
Жыл бұрын
Excellent video, very informative. One of the best portrayals of a pilot that has been shot down is in the movie, “The Bridges at Tokyo-Ri” with William Holden, Grace Kelly, Mickey Rooney and Earl Holliman. Taking place during the Korean War, Holden plays a Naval Aviator that has to lead a carrier based strike against three vital bridges. During the strike, the bridges are destroyed and the strike package moves to it’s secondary target. During this strike, Holden’s F9F Panther is hit and begins to lose fuel. Not to be a complete movie spoiler, Holden ends up in a ditch after crash-landing. Armed with his S&W Victory model .38, he watches as AD-1 Skyraiders provide a “ rescue cap” over him until Mickey Rooney and Earl Holliman, in their rescue helicopter can rescue him. It was the scene of Holden, holding his Smith & Wesson, watching heavily armed enemy soldiers closing in on him, I realized that it would have been a near hopeless situation. This movie has some great carrier flight operations on Essex class carriers of the time period. If a pilot is shot down, it would be better to have some form of firearm then nothing at all. Getting into a firefight armed with a handgun against an enemy with rifles, is usually not a good scenario. Thank goodness for rescue choppers and rescue personnel!
@cleondubois1270
Жыл бұрын
I was in the USAF Security Police career field from 1968 to 1972. On duty stateside in SAC we carried M-1 & M-2 carbines. Our issue sidearm was the S&W Combat Masterpiece revolver. While overseas in USAFE, the M16 was issued & the afore-mentioned S&W revolver also.
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, were you a Security Specialist or a Law Enforcement Specialist?
@cleondubois1270
Жыл бұрын
Good question Adam. Back then security & LE weren't separated and only a small percentage went to the tech school. I went DDA from basic to a SAC base (OJT) and could only carry a carbine or M-16 which meant security. One had to wait a certain amt. of time or make E-4 to carry a sidearm. Fortunately I made E-4 with minimum TIG & eventually worked LE. On closed SAC bases security was definitely a priority & rightly so. Upon arrival in Turkey I worked some security & some LE. @@adamcuneo7189
@Mr.Big-Gunz
Жыл бұрын
Turn up the volume some of us have hearing impediments, thank you
@memento-mori6580
Жыл бұрын
Sorry about that. I'm just using a headset and didn't want to capture ambient noise.
@mnpd3
Жыл бұрын
During Vietnam I never saw a .45 in an Air Force arms room. The only handguns were S&W "Combat Masterpieces" (Model 15?). They had the M16's of course, but oddly not a one had the Forward Assist feature on them.
@onmilo
Жыл бұрын
TURN YOUR SOUND RECORD VOLUME UP.
@memento-mori6580
Жыл бұрын
I didn't want to capture background noise. My mic is just from a gaming headset.
@earlwyss520
Жыл бұрын
As a USAF Security Policeman, I had to take turns with the other Airmen on my Flight & assist the armorer in the issue of weapons daily while I was assigned to the 97th SPS, Eaker AFB Arkansas 1990-1991. While I was serving as an assistant armorer, I noticed that some of our S&W M-15s were sporting either Pachmyer or Hogue rubber grips. Also, some units both stateside & overseas were still carrying M-15s as late as 1992.
@lindycorgey2743
Жыл бұрын
At some AFB Bases, the SPs were allowed to switch out the grips with Pachmayr or Hogues. At Bergstrom AFB, TX we had those stupid faux bone handle grips for the Gate Section. Those grips were made in Dallas, TX. Found a serious defect with them. The zinc insert that lined up the grips on the frame broke off on some of them. It totally locked up the revolver. Replaced with wood grips.
@lindycorgey2743
Жыл бұрын
In 1991 after General McPeak because USAF Chief of Staff. He put out an Air Force Wide Notice for all Units still retaining revolver holsters to turn them in. It was to be able to arm non SP Officers and Airman the M15s for self-defense in a possible combat zone. Not enough M9s or holsters to go around at the time. I heard it took about 8-10 years to totally rearm with the M9.
@AICW
Жыл бұрын
@@lindycorgey2743 The last I heard was the Air Force was still using M15s as late as 2019. The article I read said by that time, it was mostly being used to train military working dogs since .38 Special blanks had no chance of causing firearms jams. They are supposed to be phased out for the SIG Sauer M18 pistols with 9mm blanks.
@susfu4988
Жыл бұрын
@@lindycorgey2743 he did the same thing when he was the PACAF commander prior to becoming CSAF.
@scottrichardson8158
Жыл бұрын
You were stationed at Eaker AFB? ! You poor man.......
@davidfrye7713
Жыл бұрын
The modified 1911s that we carried in AFOSI in the 80s also had an ambidextrous safety. The safety lever on the right side of the frame was rather small and had a lot of play. But, it worked. The safety on the left side was the original. I do not believe that mine had a different front sight, nor a pinky extension on the shorter 6 round magazine, nor the squared off trigger guard. But, that was quite a while ago and my memory may be off. We were issued leather pancake holsters and a leather magazine pouch to carry the two spare 7 round magazines. I loved mine, it was perfectly reliable and fun. It was issued to me at the AFOSI Academy at Bolling and stayed with me until we transitioned to the Beretta. I hated giving it up for the Beretta.
@themarksmn4181
Жыл бұрын
My Grandpa was an AFOSI Agent. Some of the stories that he COULD talk about were amazing. Maj. James Merritt ret.
@davidfrye7713
Жыл бұрын
@@themarksmn4181 Nice, when did he serve?
@themarksmn4181
Жыл бұрын
@@davidfrye7713 late 60s through the early 80s? I believe he was an agent and then Commander? He was in New Mexico and then "Florida" [Columbia]. Never really told much of what happened in Columbia.
@stevecollier7475
6 ай бұрын
I served as a USAF combat arms instructor from 75 to 84 and played with all the toys.
@marks1638
Жыл бұрын
I had a hoot watching the OSI 45 modification. What a fiasco that turned out to be. When I was stationed at Lackland AFB (and the Medina Annex) I worked as Small Arms Maintenence and Training Instructor (SAMTU) at the Armory next to the Air Force Gunsmith shop at Medina Annex in the early 80's. They were just getting into the OSI 45 1911A1 mod. A year or so later at Loring AFB (I ended up back in my old Career Field, ECM on B-52's) I was in the shop when one of base SAMTU guys walked in with a OSI mod gun. The rear sight had fallen off during weapons training and they borrowed our Tap and Die set to fix it. I asked how the OSI mod was going in the field and he said it was a disaster using old guns (that had rebuilt several times already) to save money when they could have just bought some Colt Combat Commanders. I don't know what the issue was as the gunsmiths at Lackland were very good at their jobs. Bill Day (one of their former gunsmiths) ran the Powerhorn Gunshop in San Antonio, and he built up some of the best customized 1911's and Smith & Wesson Revolvers. The Head Gunsmith, Tom Krcmar, worked up an Essex framed 1911A1 for me (he had a small gunshop at his home) and I still have and use that gun to this day. It's tight, well built, and extremely accurate to this day. But some of the OSI guns had sights falling off, guns were malfunctioning, and some other parts were breaking. Eventually they retired the OSI mod guns after several years of problems. I personally enjoyed carrying and using the Smith and Wesson Model 15 (38 Spl). I found it to very easy to draw and maintain accurate shots on target. Later after I reentered the Small Arms field, by then called Combat Arms, I was issued a Beretta M92. I didn't like at much as the grip was too thick for my hands. I still managed to maintain my expert rating and it took me awhile to get used to it.
@johneasley2377
Жыл бұрын
I carried a 38 revolver and M16 during D.O.D. special weapons systems moves at Nellis area 2 1975-78
@RunningMan630
Жыл бұрын
My Dad was a bombardier in the 8th Air Force stationed in England. He was issued an M1911. He told me that they did not carry them on missions because if they were shot down, the Germans would shoot them if they were armed. One of the jobs of the quarter master was to collect the .45's from the barracks of the crew members who failed to return from a mission. In my Dad's words, the quarter master collected a lot of .45's.
@castercamber
Жыл бұрын
M9: helluva handgun. I was issued one as an Army tanker in the 90s. Bought one for myself some years ago, smooth shooter.
@user-co2wo7ej2f
Жыл бұрын
Having fired both the Beretta and the Sig P226, I preferred the Sig.
@jonpatterson7211
Жыл бұрын
Never seen so much info in one place in all my life. Thanks very much for that. It answers the question I've always had, which was why the USAF issued .38 to us. I was Air Force Security Police from Feb '80 thru Dec of '85. I loved my Mod 15, except for Smith's puny assed grips. I bought a set of oversized grips and had one of the armourers put them on. Nobody in the Sqdn could out shoot me after that. As for the ammo, I don't recall many misfires at all, but I remember walking down range to retrieve my target one time and found the copper jacket off the bullet lying in my lane. Anyway, thanks again for this video and best wishes to all the current and former AF cops, both Security and Law Enforcement.
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, when you were in the Air Force Security Police, were you a Law Enforcement Specialist or a Security Specialist? Also, was the S&W Model 15 issued to the Security Specialists as well, or were they just issued to the Law Enforcement Specialists?
@jonpatterson7211
Жыл бұрын
Adam, no thanks necessary, it was my pleasure, believe me. I was a Law Enforcement Specialist. We carried out typical law enforcement duties but were called on occasionally to perform as Security Specialists as well. What you were tasked to do depended on your security clearance. When we worked with our Security brothers, we drew a rifle from the armory, so we had to be qualified on both weapons. We qualified twice a year with the .38, and once a year with the M16. Chances to qualify with anything else were pretty rare, but I did get to fire the M203 grenade launcher and shot well enough to qualify with that weapon as well. I can't say across the board that our Security troops never carried the Mod 15, but I never saw that happen. However, it wouldn't surprise me if it did happen. A great deal has changed and I understand that law enforcement duties are now carried out by DOD contractors and the Security Police are now called Security Forces. It was a great time in my life. You never knew what the hell was going to happen next, and it was a privilege to be part of it. Sorry to ramble and thanks for the opportunity to sound off.
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
@@jonpatterson7211 Thank you so much for the information sir, and no need to be sorry, lol :)
@rays.5764
Жыл бұрын
I learned to shoot with an old S&W like what my dad was issued then carried an M9 basically every day of my contract. Very good video.
@jojodiver8706
Жыл бұрын
I was a Dedicated Crewchief in the USAF. Went through jump school and SERE school. The only sidearm issued to me was a .38 revolver. I think its purpose was for me to use it on myself if we went down behind the line.
@dominicvasquez6469
Жыл бұрын
Maybe help a couple buddies too!
@mattsnow1097
Жыл бұрын
I served in the 3906SSS Omaha Nebraska I carried a model 10. I served 1988 to 1990 their. The general officers I watched were givin model 10 snub nose and they were parkerized. We were given 18 rounds.
@arapahoetactical7749
Жыл бұрын
I'm a retired Air Force Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Instructor and was stationed at Lowery AFB in the early 1980's when the OSI wanted the cut down 1911's. We had a regional OSI office there at that time and they got about 25 of those cut down handguns. Talk about a total POS. The problem was that instead of installing new, but shorter barrels, they took the already old WWII vintage barrels and cut them down. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. 1911 barrels have a larger outside diameter at the muzzle to engage with the barrel bushing for a somewhat snug lock up, which is actually pretty loose on most 1911's of that age. So, they cut a section of barrel out of the middle and then welded the muzzle end back on. This led to the least accurate 1911's I've ever seen. I swear one particular gun had to be aimed over 10' high and left in order to hit a full size target at 15 yards. They also jammed constantly. Those guns were without a doubt, the worst pieces of junk the Air Force bought, worse even than the crappy .22 adapters for the M-16 and that's saying something. One last thing, I noticed you didn't mention the change in .38 special ammo that came about in 1980. Before that time they used Wadcutter rounds for training and had FMJ ball ammo for duty, but having to keep both types on hand, and keep the brass separated was a royal pain. Also the ball ammo for duty was a very light load. In 1980, the same year I got into CATM, they changed to PGU-12 ammo that was a 130 gr. FMJ Ball projectile loaded to near .357 Magnum pressures, what we'd call a +P+ load today. collectibleammunition.com/product/38-special-ball-high-velocity-wcc-81/ While using that ammo we had to keep screw drivers on us as the sights and thumb pieces would often vibrate loose under the recoil. I still have 6 of those rounds in my collection and they're still a handful.
@jkelley2091
Жыл бұрын
This is a fantastic video. I bought General Charles Boyd's Model 56 in October 2022 perfect shape used it as his sidearm concealed from 1986 till his retirement in 1995 then he purchased it from the government. I paid 4950
@adamcuneo7189
7 ай бұрын
Is that the S&W Model 56 .38 Special revolver that was issued to U.S. Air Force pilots?
@jkelley2091
7 ай бұрын
@@adamcuneo7189 yes sir
@mikeorick6898
Жыл бұрын
I served from 78-98. I was issued the M15, M1911A1 Premium Grade, the M9, and M11. The AFOSI has passed on the M18 and modification kits and purchased the Glock 26/19.
@robertstevenson57
Жыл бұрын
As a Security Policeman in SAC 1971-72, I carried a S&W Model 10 with a four inch barrel.
@p99guy
Жыл бұрын
A victory model… pre model 10
@tonyv8925
Жыл бұрын
I remember those. My last base had nuclear birds and an E-4 SP lived across the street from me. Our base SP's and law enforcement all carried the Model 10. Some of us old farts got to qualify with the 1911-A1, myself included. Range master let us handle the S&W model 10, but not shoot it. Very slick action. Thank you for your service, brother. Retired Sgt. 70-75
@steve-ph9yg
Жыл бұрын
I have a 1944 Colt Official Police that was part of the 4,500 War Department purchase to complete the order. They were getting the Colt Commando in numbers (52,000 in all). The gun has the flaming bomb proof mark.
@stevepolakof9484
Жыл бұрын
From the mid 1970's to the mid 1980's at SAC Bases we were issued K Frame S&W 38's (with a belt and black leather holster) and a box of 38 Ball Ammo with two layers of duct tape sealing the box. We were told that if we broke the seal of the ammo boxes, we would have a lot of explaining to do. And, at the same time we were to protect certain assets with the handguns. Well, it was typical of the double talk orders we were given as crewmembers in SAC. We felt like Barney Fife, from the Andy Griffith show, walking around with unloaded pistols. For years, I quietly brought my own ammo, loaded my sidearm, and after duty unloaded and turned-in my unloaded sidearm with the never unsealed ammo boxes. After a few years of dong that I started asking other crewmembers how they handled the issue. It turns out that every crewmember I talked to had done the same as me. We all carried loaded pistols, just not loaded with AF ammo. We just never talked about it. We were issued the same boxes of duct taped ammo for years and turned them back in the same condition. We all loaded and unloaded from our personal ammo box for years, never firing a shot. They trusted us with aircraft, loaded with incredible weapons, and did not trust us with pistols and ammunition. I have no idea how they handle aircrews and weapons no, but I am sure it is not as silly as SAC was 40 years ago.
@adamcuneo7189
3 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, what type of .38 Special ammo did you carry in your issued pistol?
@NorthwoodsShooter
Жыл бұрын
My favorite Air Force sidearm was the S&W Model 15.
@ferdonandebull
Жыл бұрын
I was a courier in the air force and had to qualify with a pistol.. my job dealt with a lot of secret and top secret crap so we had to occasionally carry secret and better things to folks that used them. I was a country boy that shot pretty good.. So I was chosen as courier. In 1972 I was sent to the range and handed a revolver.. I think I shot 30 rounds of round nose lead that had hardly no recoil. I mentioned that these were not man killing bullets and I was told not to worry about it.. Smith makes a good revolver but you need to feed good ammo.. I made my living when I got out carrying a .357 smith…
@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont
Жыл бұрын
This is admittedly the opinion of one soldier, but I know a fellow who was in Special Forces. On his last deployment to Afghanistan, they issued his group 1911 style .45's. Apparently, and just as the Army found out in the early 1900s in the Philippines, the 9mm wasn't the best tool against some of the adversaries. We never talked much about his time "over there", but he did flatly state one time that the Army should have NEVER given up the .45! Probably neither here nor there regarding the Air Force. This was a very informative presentation, and you have another subscriber.
@foxcm2000
Жыл бұрын
This makes sense: I have an M&P Model 10 with a serial number that's just after WWII (like late-1945). It was my Grandfather's, and he served as an officer in a non-combat role in the Army Air Corps. I have a feeling he bought it because he had the V-model in WWII. Thanks for the very informative video!
@deaconblue949
Жыл бұрын
Colt supplied some of Woodsman model in .22lr for arctic survival kits for the USAF.
@polydactylproductions6787
Жыл бұрын
Fantastic video. I still have my Grandfathers Combat Masterpiece. I never knew it was an Air Force sidearm.
@p99guy
Жыл бұрын
This is actually something I try To collect when I can… I have 2 Victory models, a parkerized M15, M9, M17/ M18, And have a 1962 M12 Airweight on layaway that traces back to Ramey AFB in Purto Rico
@michaellehman1549
Жыл бұрын
My father served in the Air Force, initially in the enlisted ranks and then as an officer. He shot the M1911A1 competitively, first in Panama on a Southern Command pistol team in 1960. He still has the hat he wore for that (yellow ball cap with Southern Command crest.) After that, he went to OCS (Officer Candidate School) at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. There he competed against Security Police and Army contestants and, in 1962, he won the San Antonio area M1911A1 competition as the top marksman. That earned him a rather nice trophy, which somehow got lost along the way. His pistol, though, is still in the family. My little brother served as a student officer at Indiana University when he attended. Unlike some schools with student officers, IU arms theirs and little bro used the pistol as either his service weapon or as a backup, not sure which. Dad's need for weapon proficiency was driven primarily by his handling of classified documents. Despite joining the service with a college degree, it took him 8 years before he moved to OCS for a career upgrade. This always puzzled me when I was younger. I only found out what was up with this many years later when this part of his career was declassified enough for the family to learn of it. He'd been assigned to what was initially known as AFOAT-1 and, after 1959, as Air Force Technical Applications Center. Now even when spelled out, AFTAC doesn't say much about what they are up to. Their mission was and remains global surveillance to detect and assess evidence of nuclear weapons. This fact remained classified until 1997, when the unit's 50th anniversary served as the occasion to classify the basic details of its mission so that vets could discuss this part of their service in limited detail with their families. It is said to be the most highly educated unit in the Air Force because of the subject matter they deal with.
@rael5469
Жыл бұрын
16:12 Twelve-THOUSAND dollars???? I spit my drink out.
@robertschumacher2707
Жыл бұрын
To be fair to Checkmate, the coating on the magazines was per Army request for a surface sufficiently 'grippy' to allow soldiers to more easily handle magazines with hands that were wet or otherwise slippery. Unfortunately, the coating was also sufficiently rough to trap gritty dust.
@bigbearjohn72
Жыл бұрын
I CURRENTLY have a V version S&W in the mid 42k serial numbers, so V42. Mine is stamped "U.S. Navy" above the cylinder
@steveperry1344
Жыл бұрын
i was in the airforce and was a radio repairman and only had a tool box and electronic test equipment. we did shoot at the rifle range a few times with M-16.
@scottydouglass1892
Жыл бұрын
Being a retired Air Force crew cheif starting in the mid 80's, I only ever saw the smith & wesson 10, and 15. Then later on I fiddled with the Berretta 92. All of our m-16'a were mix mathed parts from viet nam to newish. I would get sent off to God knows what and God knows where with ratches on the bolt but no forward assist, no shell deflector hump, floppy sights, clapped out (almost) recoil springs that rattled around while sitting still, and every one was dripping with breakfree. M-60's that were fondled more then shot. M203 with never enough practice, the same for the mark14 belt fed 40mm thing. And the lovley and smoking heavy ma duece. Ain't now defence better the hiding behind a 50 bmg. What a beast.
@vintageguitarz1
Жыл бұрын
I was in Nam from 1970-73, flying UH-1C Gunships after initially flying AT-28's for Ground attack and infantry support. Since our Wings missions were always in heavy combat location, often behind the lines and in Laos and Cambodia, strafing the NVA convoys and troops, we had a high chance of being downed. I was, as all USAF pilots were, 1911A1, many WWII vintage. My Uncle decided I needed better and sent me a S&W Model 60, shoulder holster, speedloader strips and 6 boxes of .357Mag hollow point ammo. Let me say it came in handy a couple times. The explosive loud sound scared shit out of NVA and Cong. Rumors spread the USAF was issuing Magnum pistols. Several others in our Wing also had them sent to them. Capt.ret USAF 20th SOS, 27th Spl Ops Wing.
@adamcuneo7189
3 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your service sir, do you remember how many grains were those hollow point .357 Magnum rounds were? I heard the 125 grain JHP was a very hot round back then.
@adamfrazer5150
Жыл бұрын
Really appreciate the use of period footage, the army training, close-ups and images : this isn't just informative, it's diagnostic 🔎 Many thanks for putting all of this together man, I'll stay tuned 👍🍻🇨🇦
@Paladin1873
Жыл бұрын
The shortened OSI 1911 pistols were actually issued in the early 1980s. I received training on the first batch. The pistol had an ambidextrous thumb safety which was essentially a GI safety that had been modified by the gunsmiths at Lackland AFB to incorporate a small lever on the right side. The frame was heavily stippled and the front of the trigger guard was squared. When I later worked with the gunsmiths, I talked to several who had been involved in the project. They said the pistols were really a make-work project intended to justify the continued existence of the Gunsmith Shop during that time period. They told me the stippling was a time-consuming process, as was squaring the trigger guard. This makes me rather suspicious of the $100 conversion cost. I suspect labor was not factored into this figure. All the pistols were supposed to be from from a batch of several hundred that had never been issued and all of them dated back to at least 1945 (the last time the military purchased 1911 pistols). It was rumored they came from the Navy, but I cannot verify this. I do know they were a mixed bag because I remember one of them was made by Union Switch & Signal. I don't recall if any of them were Singer built (I hope not, given their extreme collector's value). Their reliability was not 100% because we had a number of failures to cycle during training. Despite this, I liked them and considered them a step up from the 3" S&W J frames we had been issued. Each pistol came with a custom leather thumb-break pancake style belt holster and dual magazine pouch. I believe these were made by Alessi.
@Forensource
Жыл бұрын
The combat masterpiece the combat masterpiece was used until at least 1985.
@ironmenwoodenladders6569
Жыл бұрын
Very well researched, no repeating myths and urban legends. Thank you for posting and keep up the good work.
@majinojinn
Жыл бұрын
While true the commercial magazines caused The M9 reliability problems, it is important to note this is a coating issue not a quality control issue. The Army experimented with phosphate, parkerizarion, and super bluing coatings to address Soldier apathy in damaging pistols and mags by over scrubbing with wire brushes. Late generation M9s are visibility over coated and often two toned from repairs with different coated parts.
@kimisdaman
Жыл бұрын
All M1911A1s were marked U.S. Army. Some M1911s manufactured prior to WWI were marked U.S. Navy, but only a very small number relative to the 500,000+ pistols made.
@gunslinger2172
Жыл бұрын
He didn't mention the Ruger security 6 revolvers that was used in 1960s .when I was in the Navy I carried one on board a very old LSD
@adamcuneo7189
Жыл бұрын
@gunslinger2172 Thank you so much for your service sir, were you an MP when you carried the Service-Six?
@mrjockt
Жыл бұрын
The bulkiness of handguns like the 1911, or in the case of the U.K. the Browning H.P., was the main reason the British Royal Air Force adopted the Walther PP as it’s standard handgun for fast jet aircrew.
@GeekyGarden
Жыл бұрын
Grandpa was an instructor during WWII for the Army Air Corps mostly flying T-6 Texans. He carried a Colt Commando. Dad has it in a case at home. It is in terrible shape though.
@1ask2risk
Жыл бұрын
Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. The Standard Issued Security Police revolver.
@majinojinn
Жыл бұрын
SAC Elite Guard allegedly carried Smith & Wesson K-38 Combat Masterpiece Revolver Model 15 in your aforementioned customized features that S&W marketed as the Model 67 sub-variant. This was purpose procured not a Victory Model modification.
@cjtexas9646
Жыл бұрын
Great Video!!!! also great to see all the former airmen on here...
@shawnenser2610
Жыл бұрын
Excellent video, Thanks for taking the time to put this together.
@dave3813
Жыл бұрын
General Curtis LeMay was certainly a gun connoisseur who could spot a good gun when he saw one. that includes the AR-15 which would've never been picked up by the military if not for the large order General LeMay made.
@adamcuneo7189
3 ай бұрын
Your forgot to mention the Ruger Service-Six that I believe was issued to Air Force MPs as well during the 80's.
@josemoreno3334
Жыл бұрын
When I was in USAF ( 1979-1994 ). I got the chance fire the 1911, 38 Spl. and 9 mm out at the firing to range. I liked the 1911 a lot. The other two, Not so much. Good USAF History lesson. Thanks.
@lightbox617
Жыл бұрын
My father was a top turret gunner. He told me that before getting on the boat for England, every airman was issued a machete and a 1911. The machete was mild steel and was serviceable for turning fried eggs. The 1911 was to heavy to carry and no one could hit anything with one. Most of the men walked to the rail at night and quietly dropped them into the Atlantic
@MichaelWilliams-nu6lv
Жыл бұрын
I carry now the Glock model longslide in caliber 45 model 41 🔺️ I used to carry the 1911 and did conceal it without any issues ❇️
@Idahoguy10157
Жыл бұрын
Knew a AF MSGT who said he carried the light weight revolver. He was a B-52 tail-gunner. Flying out of Guam during the Vietnam war
@tzackaria7
Жыл бұрын
when I was in over 50 years ago the pilots were issued .38 special revolver, not that it mattered as they couldn't shoot for twit anyway. now the security police ( MPs )were much better
@eddiemclean7011
Жыл бұрын
The largest career field in the Air Force is Security Forces, so side arms and rifles are far more common in that branch than most would anticipate.
@maxsdad538
Жыл бұрын
I was a weapons controller (fighter intercept director) and was still a "security police augmentee" (think of it as "reserve security police"). During the Iranian protests (riots) of 1979, I spent many a night guarding the front gate of a "priority "A" resource (use of deadly force authorized) missile warning site east of San Diego. You get a WHOLE different perspective when you're given an M-16 and 120 rounds, and told "if they don't stop, shoot."
@eddiemclean7011
Жыл бұрын
@@maxsdad538 We had serious authority when it came to presidential fuel details too. If inside the restricted area, it was going to end badly. Same for messing with the fuel tankers on the road. Even as a prior civilian cop, some of the use of force doctrine was surprising.
@scottcripe5009
Жыл бұрын
Eddie- I served in the 88th missile security squadron F.E. Warren AFB Cheyenne, Wyoming 87-91. We didn't carry any sidearms but for our four man fireteam every time we went to work we did have the M-16, M-16 w/ m203 grenade launcher, M-60 and the Mark19 automatic grenade launcher. We where responsible for nuclear missile silo security (any time maintenance was being performed on the missiles), missile convoy security(anytime a missile was moved out to a silo or back in from a silo). Fun little fact about F. E Warren. It has two hundred nuclear missiles covering ten thousand square miles in part of Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.
@adamcuneo7189
22 күн бұрын
@@scottcripe5009 Thank you so much for your service, did you guys also have .38 Special revolvers?
@vortec2k2
Жыл бұрын
Sig won because someone had a hard on for them, and multiple people got a nice kickback under the table. You could drop one, and they would fire if landed on the backside. Sig finally admitted it was true and had to modify all of them. The final round of testing would have shown that the problem existed and Glock would have won.
@H2R5GSXR
Жыл бұрын
Very good video, with lots of fun facts. I may or not have been in the military but was issued a 1911 A1 and shoulder holster. I had to wear it every day from 1977 to 1980, we were not liked by the LE in the chow hall as they had to disarm and we were cocked and locked. It was a lead weight that never got used. The LE had revolvers and M-16s, and we had M-14s and Laws when working. As said before I can't confirm I was ever in the military.
@williamlouie479
Жыл бұрын
I had a S & W Model 59 and it's a pretty good pistol. I also am very fond of the Beretta Model 92 & it's a really great pistol. The problem is the lead round nose ammo. The better choice would be metal jacket semi-wadcutter bullet in 115 grain weight.
@enscroggs
Жыл бұрын
1:51 This appears to be a still from a film about air support in the CBI theatre of war, specifically the resupply of troops in combat using parachute drops and gliders, and the evacuation of sick and wounded Allied soldiers by air. (There were in fact far more sick and debilitated evacuees than wounded in combat.) The nurse is wearing an M7 shoulder holster, originally designed for tank crewmen. The M7 was intended to be worn with the firearm positioned directly over the chest on the left side where it would be unlikely to snag on a tank's hatchway. This woman is very slight of build and the M7 worn by her as intended would probably be an uncomfortable nuisance. Consequently, she had evidently modified the rig into a comfortable and effective cross-draw holster supported from her right shoulder and the waist belt of her coveralls. I wouldn't want to be a Japanese soldier with the notion to take her prisoner.
@alancranford3398
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for an interesting presentation. My father and both sisters were Air Force and they had to qualify with both pistol and rifle for their duties. Dad was a radar tech and both sisters were flight status. It was very interesting to see the parallels between interwar Britain adoption of their .380 revolver (.38 Smith and Wesson caliber with initially a lead 200 grain projectile and--because of fear of violating the Hague Convention--a 174 grain FMJ projectile) and the USAF adoption of the .38 Special as soon as funding was available. Accuracy is the result of the gun, ammunition, sight system, technique--and the shooter. Air Force revolver courses originally used thumb cocking for every shot and fired at 15 and 25 yards because it was too difficult to shoot double action at small bullseye targets at 50 yards--except for the Air Force pistol teams. With the lower rate of fire and most shots at 15 yards, the semi-trained personnel could qualify. This made the .38 revolver "more accurate" than the .45 pistol. Helping the scores were long firing times and the fact that all loading was administrative--off the clock. This was in line with American police practices of the period. It was also determined that three-to-five shots were all that was needed in a gunfight. Ammunition issued started with wartime .38 Special 158 grain full metal jacket cartridges adopted during World War Two (stateside guards could use standard lead police loads). The M13 Aircrew Revolver was too flimsy for the World War Two loading and so the M41 low-pressure cartridge was adopted--a 130-grain FMJ with a chamber pressure of just 13,000 psi. 1895gunner.com/cartridge/38Special.html This cartridge was later produced in two variants, the 130-grain projectile at 16,000 psi and the Air Force demanded a better performing service load with the same 130-grain projectile at 20,000 psi chamber pressure. I've left out special purpose ammo (blank, shot, and tracer) for simplicity. Ammo issued seems to have ranged from just five cartridges to more than thirty depending on mission. The M13 Aircrew Revolver had the mission of defending nuclear weapons on bombers and seems to have been issued only six shots for that purpose--during stateside training missions. Similarly, missileers in missile launch control centers seem to have been issued only five or perhaps six cartridges for their revolvers--issued for security of the missile controls and to deal with their partner should he go nuts. OSI seems to have initially carried only six shots for agent self-protection--if they needed more firepower, they'd draw a carbine. Gate guards and Air Police (later Security Police) had dump pouches and the potential to carry 18 rounds but depending upon their mission they might draw only five cartridges--and be required to leave the revolver unloaded in its holster, all ammunition in their pouches until specifically authorized to load. Again, this was in line with federal agencies and American police at the time. Why go to automatic pistols when you only get five shots? I don't know how long this insanity lasted. Pay officers would be escorted by someone with just five pistol shots--or five carbine cartridges. Frequently the sentries on munitions storage would only have five rounds--something that had been Army standard since the 1890's until changed in the 1990's. Combat pilots seem to have drawn whatever they felt comfortable with but given the nature of their duties this could be as few as five rounds. I volunteered at an Air Force museum and a Gulf War pilot told me that he only carried five rounds for his issue revolver. The guns were interesting. Guns are bullet launchers, so ammunition types and quantities are interesting, too. Then there's doctrine and training. Some of the clips were from WW2 Army training films (one was on combat shooting) and some police training--and a few Air Force film clips. If you can, would you list the films that you used?
@memento-mori6580
Жыл бұрын
It's a little disorganized but here is most of them: kzitem.info/news/bejne/y4ZtsGGAh4WGqGk kzitem.info/news/bejne/o6ZjrnqMgJGUZ4Y kzitem.info/news/bejne/w5ptx5-MboVpeKw kzitem.info/news/bejne/u2iBzYyoan6Qrag kzitem.info/news/bejne/o5efrYd6opN6kqw kzitem.info/news/bejne/rp-Qn46LjKF1l2U kzitem.info/news/bejne/qn2QyaCXeqKBqaA kzitem.info/news/bejne/sX56yGStZn-FgJw kzitem.info/news/bejne/u6B63KSri51ng2k kzitem.info/news/bejne/woV4mnyskIWhdII kzitem.info/news/bejne/sqZ93pOKe4GSiZw kzitem.info/news/bejne/qI5-x6CPsV-ZhJg kzitem.info/news/bejne/wqeYq6aKoJuiho4 kzitem.info/news/bejne/ta-huJqanniXa4I kzitem.info/news/bejne/lZVs36aXjntzfaw kzitem.info/news/bejne/yaaO2ZyKenpqoXo
@alancranford3398
Жыл бұрын
@@memento-mori6580 Thanks. I have seen some of these. The first one listed shows the "instinctive point shooting" technique taught in the Army by Rex Applegate, a student of W. E. Fairbairn--note that tracers were employed in the training film for training purposes. An on-line discussion of two-hand pistol techniques included criticism of fictional Dirty Harry for gripping his own wrist instead of the accepted modern shooting grips--but the first link shows a lot of cup-and-saucer holds. I have period military pistol manuals in my collection -- or had them (I'm not fully organized) -- and reprints. Note also that the finger remains on the trigger from the time the pistol is pulled from the holster to when it's returned--I corresponded with Rex Applegate about this in the Nineties when I was the armorer and small arms instructor for an antiterrorist security contract with 180 uniformed and armed security officers in the Middle East.
@mel_163
Жыл бұрын
FANTASTIC Man I hope you do new videos in this style
@MrGrubee48cc
Жыл бұрын
This is excellent, all I would ask is improving the audio of the narration, but otherwise great video.
@memento-mori6580
Жыл бұрын
My audio set-up is just a cheap gaming headset.
@zillsburyy1
Жыл бұрын
RIP Arthur Cook Died February 21, 2021 (aged 92)
@ironraccoon3536
Жыл бұрын
Great video, I didn't really have much info on Air Force pistols until now. Could be louder, though, I had to turn my volume up a bunch to hear clearly.
@user-co2wo7ej2f
Жыл бұрын
That happens as we get older plus loss of hearing from the flight line.
@blueduck9409
Жыл бұрын
Good video. Next maybe you can do a simular video about assault rifles in the Air Force? Dont forget the GAU 5. Along with the M16 and variants.
@alancranford3398
Жыл бұрын
What role did the Colt M1903 caliber .32 pistol play in the Air Force? When the Air Force was officially born on 18 September 1947 US Army Counter Intelligence Corps agents were issued wartime .32 pistols left over from World War Two. The Colt M1903 was standard OSS issue and there were many left over. Navy NIS agents sometimes drew one of these .32 pistols. As late as the Sixties these weapons were issued to general officers, too. I think General LeMay was issued one in WW2. By the Seventies all of these worn-out WW2 caliber .32 pistols were replaced by caliber .38 revolvers.
@memento-mori6580
Жыл бұрын
Good question. In retrospect, I should have included it. Both the .380 and the .32 M1903's served as General Officer pistols in the Army Air Force and likely stuck around for a few years after. Going by Charles W. Pate's "U.S. Handguns of WW2" the majority of M1903's seemed to be of the .380 variety. A memo from the Rock Island Arsenal to the Chief of Ordinance (dated 17 Nov 1952) scanned into the book mentions only 4 .32 ACP versions in the Air Force. They were issued to Brigadier Generals Montgomery, Griffis, Walsh, and Winn.
@Paladin1873
Жыл бұрын
One pistol not mentioned is the Colt Gold Cup. I handled several of them that were being repaired at the Air Force Gunsmith unit in the mid 1980s. I thought they were assigned to one of our shooting teams in lieu of older customized 1911 target pistols, but I was told they actually belonged to a Combat Control Team. How they acquired them or why they wanted them was a bit of a mystery to me because these pistols were a bit too delicate for heavy field work (which is why they were in for repair).
@masaharumorimoto4761
Жыл бұрын
Oh wow, this is straight up my alley!!!!! thanks for making this and sharing :)
@mikehagan4320
Жыл бұрын
This is a very interesting video. For future videos it would be nice if you could allow more time to view the pictures. I really enjoyed this video, very Informative. Best Wishes! M.H
@marcelorezende7568
Жыл бұрын
Great video! I was not familiar with the topic. Congrats!
@Idahoguy10157
Жыл бұрын
I’ve heard of the OSI 1911’s. Built by the custom gun-shop at Lackland AFB. I’ve never seen one
@jimdavenport8020
Жыл бұрын
I Phlew Phantoms for the USAF from 1976 to 1987 in four operational squadrons. In only one, Keflavik Iceland, did we not use the M-15 exclusively. At Kef, the Navvy supplied our handguns and they were all 1911A1s. Not that it mattered as, other than one day of classroom training, we never saw them. Several of us wanted to fly with them loaded with tracer ammo to aid in being loccated during a SAR but the commanders wouldn't hear of it. Back to the .38s. The Model 15 was a fine revolver and was standard issue for many police agencies back then. It was easy to train someone who had never handled a handgun to use one - want it to shoot? Pull the trigger! Don't want it to shoot? DON"T pull the trigger. We would only be issued the revolvers during exercises simulating combat, oft as not, without any ammo. The USAF was scared shitless someone would have a negligent discharge. From talking to many guys who carried the .38 in Vietnam, the ammo was a huge issue with tales of aircrew on the ground firing their weapon and having near 'squib' results. So the gun got a bad reputation. Of course the requirement to NOT use expanding ammo didn't help either. As a 'gun guy', I was appalled at the lack of training we received. The most assinine thing was my squadrons' revolvers that we would have really gone to war with were kept in secure storage and only brought out for exercises as I mentioned. Some of them were still coated in Cosmoline! On the rare occassions we actually did 'Small Arms Training', we used 'range guns' that were fired thousands of rounds a year and worn accordingly. But wait a minute, didn't the USAF spend the exta money for M15s with adjustable sights? Yep. Then ignored them. I put on a campaign to have the whole squadron do Small Arms Training on one day, drag our revolvers out of the armory, and allow each of us to fire 'our' .38 and adjust the sights as required. The NCO who ran Life Support oppesed it as it would be 'too much extra work' for him and his guys to go get the revolvers,, issue them and then return them after we had shot AND CLEANED them. The problem was, aircrew had no faith in the individual revolver that they might need in ernest one day. More than once I showed how to 'ops check' them by (of course there was no ammo) cocking the revolver, dropping a No 2 pencil with eraser down the barrel (eraser end first) and pulling the trigger. The pencil would fly out of the barrel and prove that the revolver would have fired had there been a round in the chamber. The most horriflying thing I heard was our squadron commander commenting how we would only load five rounds and keep an empty cylinder under the hammer! As politely as a 1st Lieutenant could, I advised the Colonel that he was laboring under the rules for a revolver from 1873 and that there was a piece of steel in the S&W that eliminated that issue. He didn't care! During his first tour in Nam, he had carried his own 'cowboy style' revolver and only loaded five! The Beretta came into issue after I no longer flew and I never went to the range with one, but I was surprised to learn that the USAF SPs were carrying theirs with one in the chamber! I had feared the candy ass USAF would not let them chamber a round like the Army was famous for with their MPs and the 1911. I even observed MPs on duty with NO MAGAZINE in their pistol. To be fair, I saw a picture of a friend of mine who deployed to the sandbox. He had a Beretta in a shoulder holster with no magazine. Why even give you the weapon?
@AICW
Жыл бұрын
That story of a squadron colonel doing "load one, skip one, load four" in a freaking double-action revolver had me rolling, man.
@AMXSShirt
Жыл бұрын
I qualified on a M15 in the AF in the late 80’s due to a 9mm shortage. The rear sight kept falling off the .38. Hood times.
@mikemcdougall2435
Жыл бұрын
Really excellent presentation hope to see more. One somewhat related question I had was about USAF use of the M1 Garand. I know the M1 and M2 carbine was standard for the AF until the M-16 but I’ve seen some images of Airmen with the M1 Garand and wondered how widespread was.
@828enigma6
Жыл бұрын
Shame the Air Crewmen weren't built with titanium instead of aluminum.
@Idahoguy10157
Жыл бұрын
When Desert Shield started at Mtn Home AFB new revolvers were being issued out of war reserve stock after that warehouse was opened. Much later I think all those revolvers were destroyed. As the M9 Beretta and the M11 SiG replaced them. Brand new revolvers….a pity
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