Italeri C-119K Stinger

The Italeri C-119K Stinger (HC-1468) focuses on the transformation of the heavy Fairchild C-119 transport into a dedicated “flying gunship” for the US Air Force. Developed for night missions in Vietnam, the AC-119 variants were used against Vietcong supply lines and troop concentrations, combining increased firepower with improved short-field performance.

Key Details

• The AC-119K carried two 20 mm guns and four 7.62 mm mini-guns.
• The AC-119G variant featured lighter armament.
• Two additional jet engines were fitted to enable take-offs from short runways when fully loaded with ammunition.
• With the arrival of the more powerful AC-130H, these aircraft were progressively transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force and remained in use until the fall of Saigon.

This Italeri subject captures a notable chapter of Vietnam War air operations, charting the evolution of the Fairchild C-119 from transport workhorse to night-fighting gunship.