Death on Call: AC-130 Gunship Crew, Comradery, Chaos and Confessions

Ever wondered what it’s actually like inside an AC-130 gunship when the headsets are on and the cameras are off? In episode nine of the Death on Call Podcast, host JL Pelt sits down with our guests to pull back the curtain on the "Symphony of Chaos." Joining us from the newly renovated "Gun Deck" studios are Tech Sergeant (Ret.) Juan Newman, a veteran flight engineer, and Staff...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Death on Call Podcast! In this all-officer episode, hosts JL Pelt and Jon Shipley sit down with retired Air Force officers Chris Tharp and John "JLo" Lorenz for a conversation that is, at it's core, a love letter to the gunship family. From the moment they stepped into the 19th SOS, they felt it: that instant, unbreakable bond that turned coworkers into brothers and sis...

Master Sergeant (Ret.) Eddie Robinson and Tech Sergeant Jimmy Christensen join guest host Jon Shipley for one of the wildest episodes yet. From their unlikely (and chaotic) friendship to gunner hugs, hot sauce pranks that went way too far, GBJ poker battles, and the non-stop shenanigans that kept gunship crews sane downrange — this is the real, unfiltered gun deck experience. They also open up abo...

From Season 1 Episode 7. What it takes to be a good crew member. Episode release 3/29/26 @ 10am EST

Episode 6 of Death on Call — “Sensors Tracking” — takes you inside the booth with two legendary retired AC-130 sensor operators: Master Sergeant (Ret.) Tracy “Rage” Rich and Master Sergeant (Ret.) Jeremy “TF” Whitley. From AWACS origins to gunship chaos, they share raw, unfiltered stories of their first shoots, near-misses with RPGs and power lines, floor-loaded 40mm runs, coaching rookies under f...

All loadmaster.... and an EWO.In Episode 5 of the Death on Call podcast — "The 1A2 Show" — host reunites with two legendary retired AC-130U Spooky loadmasters: Master Sergeant (Ret.) Cade Cooper, a 4th SOS plankholder with 17 deployments, 5,000+ flying hours, and combat spanning the Balkans to Iraq (including one of the first U-model engagements in Kosovo), and Technical Sergeant (Ret.)...

Ep 4 Part 2 Starring: Senior Master Sergeant (Retired) Chris "Gun Ready" Jette Technical Sergeant (Retired) Ashley Cox Former Staff Sergeant Daniel "DD" Deleon Former Staff Sergeant Tim Wolfe Guest co host former Captain Jon Shipley Discussed One Minute Drill: ⁠One Minute Drill⁠

Ep 4 Part 1 Starring: Senior Master Sergeant (Retired) Chris "Gun Ready" Jette Technical Sergeant (Retired) Ashley Cox Former Staff Sergeant Daniel "DD" Deleon Former Staff Sergeant Tim Wolfe guest Co host former Captain Jon Shipley Discussed One Minute Drill: One Minute Drill

Featuring Master Sergeant (Retired) Ben Narro and Former Staff Sergeant Bryan Alexander

Episode 2 of Death on Call — AC-130 crew camaraderie, chaos, and confessions. Host JL Pelt (former AC-130U Spooky loadmaster) talks with Spectre veterans: Captain Stan Hain (AC-130H loadmaster 2007–2010, 3100+ hours, 700 combat, current MC-130J CSO) and former Captain Jon Shipley (AC-130 EWO, cross-flow H/U model, chief tactics/chief EWO in the 16th SOS).They dive deep into the Spectre vs. Spooky...

Episode 1 of Death on Call — raw, unfiltered gunship stories from two legends: former AC-130U Spooky gunner/loadmaster Major (Ret.) Daniel “Deuce” Blight (1,600+ gunship hours, 1,800+ total combat, 7 deployments) and Brian “Beld” Beldon (2,800 flight hours, 2,000 combat, early GWOT gunship era).From the shock of first stepping onto the gunship, insane training pressure, hydraulic fires & runaw...