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Hurlburt celebrates AC-130’s 50th anniversary

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Norman Evans, left, attends the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. Evans served in the Vietnam War as a sensor operator who flew on several aircraft including the AC-47 Spooky gunship, the AC-119 Shadow gunship and the AC-130A Spectre gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Norman Evans, left, attends the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. Evans served in the Vietnam War as a sensor operator who flew on several aircraft including the AC-47 Spooky gunship, the AC-119 Shadow gunship and the AC-130A Spectre gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Bill Walters, a program analyst with Air Force Special Operations Command, speaks during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. The 4th Special Operations Squadron celebrated the 50th anniversary of the AC-130's Air Force career by sharing a brief history of the aircraft, hosting a barbecue and a facilitating a tour of the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Bill Walters, a program analyst with Air Force Special Operations Command, speaks during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. The 4th Special Operations Squadron celebrated the 50th anniversary of the AC-130's Air Force career by sharing a brief history of the aircraft, hosting a barbecue and a facilitating a tour of the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Past crewmembers of various C-130 aircraft attend the 50th Anniversary at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. These Air Commandos served in various wars, such as the Vietnam War, and were some of the first to experience the gunship’s power firsthand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Past crewmembers of various C-130 aircraft attend the 50th Anniversary at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. These Air Commandos served in various wars, such as the Vietnam War, and were some of the first to experience the gunship’s power firsthand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Norman Evans, attends the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. Evans served in the Vietnam War as a sensor operator who flew on several aircraft including the AC-47 Spooky gunship, the AC-119 Shadow gunship and the AC-130A Spectre gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Norman Evans, attends the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. Evans served in the Vietnam War as a sensor operator who flew on several aircraft including the AC-47 Spooky gunship, the AC-119 Shadow gunship and the AC-130A Spectre gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Smith, the command chief of Air Force Special Operations Command, speaks during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. Smith spoke on the importance the gunship has on the battlefield and the importance of the aircraft’s evolution in achieving air superiority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Smith, the command chief of Air Force Special Operations Command, speaks during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the AC-130 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. Smith spoke on the importance the gunship has on the battlefield and the importance of the aircraft’s evolution in achieving air superiority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Air Commandos with the 4th Special Operations Squadron attend a brief history of the AC-130's evolution at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. The 4th SOS celebrated the 50th anniversary of the AC-130's Air Force career with a brief history lecture, a barbecue and a tour of the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

Air Commandos with the 4th Special Operations Squadron attend a brief history of the AC-130's evolution at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. The 4th SOS celebrated the 50th anniversary of the AC-130's Air Force career with a brief history lecture, a barbecue and a tour of the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --

Air Commandos with the 4th Special Operations Squadron attend a brief history of the AC-130's evolution at Hurlburt Field, Fla., March 31, 2017. The 4th SOS celebrated the 50th anniversary of the AC-130's Air Force career with a brief history lecture, a barbecue and a tour of the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)