Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!nih-csl!lhc!ncifcrf!haven!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Side arms for Fly boys.
Message-ID: <1990Oct24.115430.4612@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 24 Oct 90 11:54:30 GMT
References: <1990Oct15.033827.12908@cbnews.att.com> <1990Oct19.032923.13501@cbnews.att.com>
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From: uunet!mcgp1!flak (Dan Flak)


The standard issue weapon in the Air Froce was indeed, the .38 pistol.
The only time I saw one outside of the firing range was during
the evacuation of Saigon. They even gave me bullets :-). I kept
bullets and sidearms in separate flight suit pockets (no
holdsters were issued ??). I really couldn't figure out what I
could do with the damned thing. (I'm not that good of a shot --
I'd much rather run and hide :-). I certainly wasn't going to
"Rambo-cize" the countryside.

On the other hand, the weapon issued to O-2A crews was a modified
M-16 (with pull out wire stock). I *could* hit something with
that, although I was glad never to have the opportunity to prove
it off the firing range.

It doesn't matter if I'm dropping a 500 lb bomb, shooting a
rocket, straffing, or firing a .38 pistol -- I always get within
10 meters of the target.
-- 
       Dan Flak - McCaw Cellular Communications Inc., 201 Elliot Ave W.,
    Suite 105, Seattle, Wa 98119, 206-286-4355, (usenet: nwnexus!mcgp1!flak)