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I came across these while looking at something else this morning. The Douglas AC-47 - (aka "Spooky" aka "Puff the Magic Dragon") - The first aerial gunship employed by the USAF.
It was equipped with three 7.62mm General Electric miniguns to fire through two rear window openings and the side cargo door, all on the left (pilot's) side of the aircraft,
The guns were actuated by a control on the pilot's yoke whereby he could control the guns either individually or together, although gunners were also among the crew to assist with gun failures and similar issues.
It could orbit the target for hours providing suppressing fire over an elliptical area approximately 52 yd (47.5 m) in diameter, placing a round every 2.4 yd (2.2 m) during a 3-second burst. The aircraft also carried flares that it could drop to illuminate the battleground.
The guns were actuated by a control on the pilot's yoke whereby he could control the guns either individually or together, although gunners were also among the crew to assist with gun failures and similar issues.
It could orbit the target for hours providing suppressing fire over an elliptical area approximately 52 yd (47.5 m) in diameter, placing a round every 2.4 yd (2.2 m) during a 3-second burst. The aircraft also carried flares that it could drop to illuminate the battleground.
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