USAF Special Operations MH-53J Pave Low

In my war, almost 40 years ago, I worked with the HH-53B "Super Jolly Green Giant" and the brave men who flew it to rescue aviators who had been shot down in hostile territory. The big lumbering helicopter evolved over the years into the version in the picture. It's exterior appearance hasn't changed too much and it's active defenses still consist of 3 electric "mini-guns", 3,000 RPM .30 cal (7.62mm) gatling guns. One at the left window, behind the co-pilot, one at the crew door/hoist, behind the pilot, and one on the ramp at the back of the aircraft.

That's my flashback for today. Now on to Oak Ridge, Tennessee...

 

A firearms instructor with Wackenhut Services was struck by bullet fragments last month when there was a malfunction with a Dillon M134D Aero Minigun. The incident occurred during the semi-annual firearms qualifications taking place at the Central Training Facility in Oak Ridge. Wackenhut is the government's security contractor at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant and other Oak Ridge facilities.
(Y-12 has been in the news recently because they are disassembling some obsolete nuclear weapons. I would expect security to be heavy.)

The Aug. 25 incident is outlined in a Department of Energy occurrence report, and Oak Ridge officials today confirmed some of the details. The unnamed firearms instructor's injuries were reportedly minor, and he was taken to University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

"The instructor received a cut to his forehead, and small fragments in his left knee and right forearm," the DOE report said. "He also injured his right forearm while moving to a prone position during the incident."
(Reading between the lines, he hit the dirt quite expeditiously. This is understandable, - I once got my finger caught in the zipper of a flak jacket while trying to put the garment on as quickly as possible.)

The Gatling gun was mounted in the turret of a Lenco Bearcat, an armored vehicle used at Y-12.

According to the DOE report, "The fragments occurred when the barrel clamp/flash suppressor (shown below) on the gun loosened and moved forward, causing it to be struck by bullets during a burst of gunfire."

The report said that a team began an investigation and minigun training at Central Training Facility was suspended until the completion of the investigation.

"All operational miniguns were checked and it was verified that all are serviceable and properly installed," the report said.

The instructor was treated for minor injuries, the government said something pompous, Wackenhut said that employee safety was important, Dillon promised to try to make the barrel clamp/flash suppressor foolproof, and the fool who didn't tighten it properly was not available for comment.

And now, what you've all been waiting for, - the movies.

Here it is:

The Dillon M134D Aero Minigun