| home
Mini Gun Mount Drawings
See Story of the door mounted mini-gun below
Drawing 1
Drawing 2
The Story of the "Door Mounted" mini-gun
Fran Pradise-Summer 68
After sending you these crude drawings that I found in my stuff,i decided to explain how that mini-gun project evolved.
We were shot down on a "smoke" mission one day on(ship#?),which resulted in that letter of commendation.I realized we needed more firepower on our flank,I woke up one morning with some ideas and approached the C.O. or Capt.Reynolds(not sure). I knew I could build it if I could find the stuff I needed. Surprisingly I got the go-ahead.
I scronged around a Huey graveyard for anything that would help.The engineers let me use there welding shop. I believe we made up a gun out of spare parts because there were no spare guns. The ammo tray with drive motor was out of a Cobra. The cyclic handle made it two-hands on to fire(onehand was dead-man switch,the other was the trigger.The wiring went to a circuit breaker that gave the Pilots control. The ammo chute was long enough to allow the gun to be moved to either door,while inflight on identical mounts with safety stops.The ammo tray served as seat.The whole thing could be pinned to the floor in minutes,making it useable on other ships.
The test-fire off the back of a truck went great. I had the honor of an inflight test. Very gratifying,especially after the work and support. So many guys believed in me,I was afraid to let them down.
I went home before it was used,if it ever was used. I never knew.You are the fist contact since that fall of"68".
Fran "Ace" Paradise
As we all know now. Frans little experiment worked great, and is now the basis for all door mounted miniguns the Army uses today. It did undergo some modifications after Fran left, but the main concept stayed. Yes, Fran..it worked well beyond anyones wildest dreams. It is still working today. Chalk one up for Diamondhead creativity!
Ron Leonard
