I used to love to see and hear the A1 Skyraiders come in on a gun run in VN,Laos,and Cambodia. They not only fired 50's,they also fired 20 or 40 mm cannons,I don't remember which right now.
They would dive down so close you could see the pilot smiling as he pulled out of his dive to fly away,and see his leather WW-2 headgear and a lot of those guys also seemed to like wearing scarves.
It was just like being in the middle of a WW-2 movie. We loved the A1's because they could come in lower and slower,and put it where you needed it,and they could stay on station longer than the fast movers. Plus,they were less likely to drop it on you than the fast movers were.
I have to admit I liked them the most when they were also dropping napalm,though. NOTHING works like napalm to make the bad guys want to go away.
I have never see one operate personally,but I understand the USAF aircraft they call a "Wart Hog" has been doing an excellent job of replacing the A-1's,though. They can't fly quiet as slow,but they can carry more ordinance,and with the improved bombing and strafing capabilities available today that really means something.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
.50's.....they shredded the Japanese Zeke's/Zero's when the Flying Tigers became operational in China.
“With the exception of Whites, the rule among the peoples of the world, whether residing in their homelands or settled in Western democracies, is ethnocentrism and moral particularism: they stick together and good means what is good for their ethnic group." -Alex Kurtagic