The C-119 was a major redesign of the C-82 Packet. The C-119 had the same major design feature as the C-82"a rear-loading, all-through cargo hold" but featured more- powerful engines and a relocation of the flight deck. In an effort to speed production during the Korean War, Kaiser was chosen to establish a second assembly line (151 C- 119F/Gs built; 41 C-119Cs assembled). The type saw extensive action in the Korean War, flying from bases in Japan. C-119s were also used to ferry supplies to the Arctic for construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line radar sites. Production ended in 1955. A total of 68 C-119F/Gs were modified with an upward-hinged beaver-tail design cargo door and were redesignated C-119J. A few C-119Js were specially modified for midair retrieval of capsules containing Corona program satellite imagery reentering the atmosphere. The first successful effort came on August 18, 1960, when a C-119 crew flying over the Pacific snagged the parachute lowering the Discoverer XIV imagery capsule. The type was also used by US Navy and Marine Corps (as R4Qs), Italy, India, and Belgium. In the late 1960s, the Air Force selected the C-119 to replace the AC-47 Spooky. Fairchild Hiller (as the company had become in 1966) was chosen to modify 52 aircraft under the Gunship III program (26 AC-119G and 26 AC-119Ks). Entering service on March 11, 1969, with the 17th Special Operations Squadron, AC-119Gs mainly flew fire support and air base defense missions.

Correction subsequent to publication: The C-119Gs entered service with the 71st Special Operations Squadron. The 71st SOS became the 17th SOS in June 1969.

The 18th SOS (AC-119K) was employed almost exclusively to destroy targets along the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam War. The last C-119 was retired in September 1975.

Contractors:	Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp., Aircraft Division
	Kaiser Manufacturing Co.
Locations Built:	Hagerstown, Md.
	Willow Run, Mich.
Number Built: (USAF)	1,150 (963)
First Flight:	November 1947
First Flight Model:	XC-119A (Modified C-82 Packet)
First Flight Location:	Unconfirmed but likely Hagerstown, Md.
First Flight Pilot:	Unconfirmed
Models/Variants:	C-119B, F, G, J, K, L. AC- 119G Shadow, AC-119K Stinger
Powerplant:	Two Wright R-3350-89A Cyclone 18-cylinder radials of 3,500 hp each (C- 119Ks also had two General Electric J85-GE-17 turbojets of 2,850 lb static thrust in underwing pods)
Wingspan:	109 ft 3 in.
Length:	86 ft 6 in.
Height:	26 ft 6 in.
Weight:	72,700 lb gross
Armament:	None (C-119); four side-firing SUU-11A/A or SUU-11B/A gun pods (GAU- 2B/A 7.62 miniguns) (AC-119G/K) and two General Electric M61A1 Vulcan 20-mm cannon (AC-119K only)
Accommodation:	Six (pilot, copilot, navigator, radio operator, flight engineer, and loadmaster) and up to 62 troops (normally 45) or 35 stretchers plus four attendants or cargo. Eight (pilot, copilot, two navigators, flight engineer, two gunners, and loadmaster) on AC-119G/K
Cost:	$590,000 for basic aircraft (AC-119G modifications cost approx $623,000 for each aircraft; AC-119K modifications cost approx $2.6 million for each aircraft)
Max. Speed:	281 mph
Range:	1,630 mi.
Ceiling:	24,000 ft.