Do military pilots carry any sort of guns when they fly?

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Posted: 6/18/2012 1:03:37 PM EDT

Just wondering

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:04:06 PM EDT

[#1]

Beretta 92?

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:04:18 PM EDT

[#2]

no totally unarmed, guns are scary

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:05:30 PM EDT

[#3]

M61A1?

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:06:10 PM EDT

[#4]

Pretty sure there is (was?) an NSN for S&W j-frame .38Spl for this exact reason.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:07:21 PM EDT

[#5]

I'm sure CFII will post some bitching videos of Kiowas flying around with M4's up on the glare shield.

And the answer is it depends on what they are doing.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:07:50 PM EDT

[#6]

M9 im sure

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:08:17 PM EDT

[#7]

Hi points. Duh

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:08:33 PM EDT

[#8]

Army Pilots typically carry an M9 these days. For decades they carried 38's and 1911's (mostly 38's).

Handguns have been part of aviation survival philosophies since the very beginning. Airforce survival kits at one time contained take down 22 rifles, Soviet Era Cosmonauts were issued survival kits that included a shotgun.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:09:17 PM EDT

[#9]

Side arms yes. What type ? Not sure if there is a mandatory model.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:10:08 PM EDT

[#10]

Air Force cargo guys carry M9's in my experience.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:11:39 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Just wondering

Can't speak to things now - but back in the 80s to early 90s Army National Guard flight crew in my unit were issued 38 revolvers when we were on AT. No firearms were issued for drill weekends; however I know one aviator that would sneak a privately owned over/under .22/.410 into his flight bag. He had been shot down twice in Vietnam and wouldn't fly without it, nobody seemed to care.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:12:52 PM EDT

[#12]

Fun Fact: During Desert Storm, the pilots were told that they didn't have to carry the issue firearm and could actually bring along one of their own purchase.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:13:14 PM EDT

[#13]

Yes, and boy do their arms get tired.

ba-dum-chss

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:13:52 PM EDT

[#14]

From my time in the navy...
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss330/napalmsticks/07deployment028.jpg

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:14:57 PM EDT

[#15]

My neighbor's son is a USMC F/A-18 pilot. I spoke with him two weeks ago and he said he was issued an M11 (Sig P228) but was told only to carry it during combat missions. He's been assigned to a squadron for a year and hasn't taken the pistol into a cockpit yet.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:15:15 PM EDT

[#16]

Beretta 92 (M9) or SIG 228 (M 11) depending on service, mission, etc.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:17:56 PM EDT

[#17]

My father was an SH-2 pilot off the Constellation during Vietnam. He was to carry a .38spl revolver. He apparently didn't like it so went out and bought himself a Browning Highpower and wore that instead. Still has it in his gun safe a home and it's a looker in fine shape. Impressive considering all the salt air it saw.

I've got a feeling his experience with personally owned firearms differs greatly from pilots in today's Navy.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:18:03 PM EDT

[#18]

Army Apache and Kiowa pilots each carry an M9 on their vest and an M4 in the aircraft.

Don't know about Blackhawk or Chinook, it's probably the same though. Never seen a .38 in my 11 years in the mil.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:18:57 PM EDT

[#19]

Why wouldn't they have a weapon? Everyone carries weapons while deployed.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:23:49 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Fun Fact: During Desert Storm, the pilots were told that they didn't have to carry the issue firearm and could actually bring along one of their own purchase.

Which Pilots? My dad was an Army pilot with 2/17 Cav 101st, and they were told in no uncertain terms that they would be carrying the M9, as a matter of fact they were issued brand new M9's between flying their aircraft to Jacksonville and flying out. Many of them were not happy that they had to give up their 38's (pilots can be a little superstitious, and often don't care for small changes).

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:28:02 PM EDT

[#21]

Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:33:01 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Why wouldn't they have a weapon? Everyone carries weapons while deployed.

99% of the AF don't.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:39:43 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:

Army Apache and Kiowa pilots each carry an M9 on their vest and an M4 in the aircraft.

Don't know about Blackhawk or Chinook, it's probably the same though. Never seen a .38 in my 11 years in the mil.

First post that makes sense. Thanks for your input Happyface.

They should also carry HK MP7A1's IMO.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:40:06 PM EDT

[#24]

I carried a Beretta 92 and an M4 in the cobra

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:40:35 PM EDT

[#25]

Knew an F-16 pilot, he told me he was issued an M9

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:41:22 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Just wondering

Taurus Judge

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:43:35 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
From my time in the navy...
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss330/napalmsticks/07deployment028.jpg

How did you carry all of those?

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:47:49 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:

Hi points. Duh

They'd never get off the ground.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:48:49 PM EDT

[#29]

I once heard they use to carry a gold krugerrand with them, don't know if this is true or not

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:50:28 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:

Quoted:

From my time in the navy...

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss330/napalmsticks/07deployment028.jpg

How did you carry all of those?

The MK 1D-10-T, Holster, Vest, Black, Pistol Carrier M9

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:52:37 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Just wondering

I've qualified on S&W .38 revolver (in '92), Beretta 92FS ('93-94), and Sig P228 ('00-03).

Never carried inflight. Reasons to carry would have been a) transporting a "special" and b) overland in hostile. Navy 46s don't do much of the latter and the former went away as a mission set quite a while ago.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:54:42 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
From my time in the navy...
http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss330/napalmsticks/07deployment028.jpg

it would have been easier to just carry extra mags...

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:56:49 PM EDT

[#33]

During Desert Storm I carried the issued M9 Beretta. When I went to life support to put on my g-suit and get my survival vest I got "my" M9 3 mags charged my weapon and went to the aircraft for my mission

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:57:29 PM EDT

[#34]

Back in the good old days all kinds of cool special guns were issued (airweight! duh!) and of course in time of crisis many regular types such as 1911s or standard revolvers.

Does anyone know if the over/under 22/.410 "survival" rifle was ever issued? Not the savage but the springfield type with the squese bar thing instead of a trigger?

How about the AR-7 type ?

Fun triva fact (somebody just posted it several days ago with photos) Francis Gary Powers who got shot down over the Soviet Union in a U-2 had a High Standard pistol with a silencer! Supposed to be on display with remains of the U-2 somewhere over there.

Posted: 6/18/2012 1:59:09 PM EDT

[#35]

My FIL did 3 tours of 'Nam as a carrier pilot and carried his own .38 revolver in the cockpit. Just in case...

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:02:35 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:
Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

Two whole grams of gold? Wow!

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:04:06 PM EDT

[#37]

Yep. I was told years ago that one of the first priorities for CSAR/TRAP teams when they find a downed pilot is to disarm him.

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:04:31 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
During Desert Storm I carried the issued M9 Beretta. When I went to life support to put on my g-suit and get my survival vest I got "my" M9 3 mags charged my weapon and went to the aircraft for my mission

EF-111 pilot ?

Wow, awesome !

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:05:59 PM EDT

[#39]

Even better question.... Do A-10 pilots take an aircraft with them when they fly with their gun?

<cue build a plane around the gun img>

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:07:46 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
Just wondering

We fly 60's and carry M4's and M9's at all times.

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:08:35 PM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:

Back in the good old days all kinds of cool special guns were issued (airweight! duh!) and of course in time of crisis many regular types such as 1911s or standard revolvers.

Does anyone know if the over/under 22/.410 "survival" rifle was ever issued? Not the savage but the springfield type with the squese bar thing instead of a trigger?

How about the AR-7 type ?

Fun triva fact (somebody just posted it several days ago with photos) Francis Gary Powers who got shot down over the Soviet Union in a U-2 had a High Standard pistol with a silencer! Supposed to be on display with remains of the U-2 somewhere over there.

My dad flew with a 38 revolver and either a CAR15 or M79.

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:08:58 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

Two whole grams of gold? Wow!

In 1964 Gold was $35 an oz.

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:10:19 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

Two whole grams of gold? Wow!

In 1964 Gold was $35 an oz.

Somewhere fella`, I hear Slim Pickens voice..........

Saw that one a few days ago!

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:11:40 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
Yep. I was told years ago that one of the first priorities for CSAR/TRAP teams when they find a downed pilot is to disarm him.

A recent Navy Knowledge Online course all Navy members serving OCONUS were required to take stressed, fairly well, that if you are found by a SAR team you will be disarmed and detained while your identity is verified. Probably the only NKO course I've taken in the past few years that I found interesting, and kind of disturbing in some places.

Obligatory Fuck NKO.

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:13:06 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:

Yep. I was told years ago that one of the first priorities for CSAR/TRAP teams when they find a downed pilot is to disarm him.

Safer for the guys conducting the CSAR mission. If the pilot isn't in his right mind, you don't want him to have a weapon. If he is in his right mind, still take it away, he probably can't employ it effectively anyway.

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:19:35 PM EDT

[#46]

My father carried a 1911 in his flight bag on the B-36. I believe everyone on the crew did.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 6/18/2012 2:22:16 PM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Yep. I was told years ago that one of the first priorities for CSAR/TRAP teams when they find a downed pilot is to disarm him.

Safer for the guys conducting the CSAR mission. If the pilot isn't in his right mind, you don't want him to have a weapon. If he is in his right mind, still take it away, he probably can't employ it effectively anyway.

My dad's buddy held the man in the black pijamas back for two hours with a browning hipower until the penetrator showed up.