Identify the S&W...a quiz of sorts.

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That's headed in the right direction, but I'll take my Model 13 and this GSD, thank you very much:

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As Capt Crunch identified it's definitely a S&W Model 15 which was standard USAF SP issue prior to the M-9. However, the pix has me somewhat perplexed. She is wearing the SF beret with the SF flash. That flash wasn't around until quite a few yrs after the M-9 had replaced the Model 15 as standard issue. Got to be a training location. Wonder if they're using the M15 with blanks to get the K-9s use to the gunfire.
 
If you check out the pic at the reference location, the caption reads:

"Weapons Training
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Staff Sergeant Carinae Samsel fires a .38 Caliber revolver during Weapon Recognition Training with her partner "Rico" here Dec. 3. Sergeant Samsel is a military working dog handler and Rico is a drug patrol military working dog. Both are assigned to the 31st Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Scherrie K. Gates)"

So it appears to be a very recent pic which means this is still in the inventory at some locations. The AF may have kept a few M-15s for people with small hands, or possibly for other uses.
 
"So it appears to be a very recent pic which means this is still in the inventory at some locations. The AF may have kept a few M-15s for people with small hands, or possibly for other uses."

I retired in 2000 as a SFS cmdr. The only M15s we had left were modified for the FATS and for training. I had to write justification to keep the ones I did. Otherwise the USAF wanted them all turned in. FATS was the only justification they would accept at the time. I suppose there could be some places with the M15 still on inventory altho it wasn't at any of the bases I visited. Why I wondered if it was being used with blanks is the M-9 would have to be hand cycled for each shot where the M15 would give the trainer 6 rds.
 
I went through Air Police School in the spring of 1963, and the manuals we had already showed the Combat Masterpiece in use.

However, the guns were still in short supply at some bases when I left in 1967. The gap was filled with S&W Victory Model .38's scrounged from the Navy and the odd Colt Official Police or Commando (Parkerized O.P.) and at one Canadian base with M1911A-1 .45's.

I understand that SAC units and elements in Vietnam had priority on getting the Combat Masterpieces. By the way, those guns had the standard blue S&W finish; they weren't Parkerized like most military guns.

Lone Star
 
"I understand that SAC units and elements in Vietnam had priority on getting the Combat Masterpieces. By the way, those guns had the standard blue S&W finish; they weren't Parkerized like most military guns."

I was assigned to TAC and we had them in 1972. I wouldn't be surprised if SAC got 1st dibs back then. SAC was "it" as far as some commanders were concerned. If you didn't fly heavies then all you were was just support for the big boys.
Every M15 I saw was standard blue except for one that one of the CATM guys had parkerized himself. Every M15 I saw had target trigger and target hammer. Not sure why the USAF decided on those for a duty gun. Kind of unnecessary add ons.

Off Topic - Nice to have another old Air Police on the list. Was cop school at Lackland back in 1963? Have you been back to LAFB since? The last time I was there was 1975 and went back in 1997. Couldn't hardly find my way around the place. It had all changed. No more WWII barracks.
 
I went through Air Police School at lackland in winter of 65. All I ever saw were model 15s. After I went to K9 school in 66, went to RVN, (Danang), and carried the X177 M16 sub-machine gun (as it was called) The S&W 15 was optional if you were a Dog Handler and wanted to carry both. Model 12 Trench shotguns were also a choice if you wished. The shotguns were only for use if for some reason your Sentry Dog was unfit for duty. (Two hands needed), I got out in 69 and we still had the S&W 15s at that time. I also am glad to see there still some of us left that remember the term "Air Police". I think of all those thousands of S&Ws and wish I could find a few, although they took a lot of use and abuse.. The standard load out was 6 in the revolver and 12 more in a leather "dump-pouch". In RVN, you could carry as much ammo as you felt like lugging around. Some guys made bags for their Sentry Dogs to carry ammo and water. :cool:
isp2605 wrote:
Every M15 I saw had target trigger and target hammer. Not sure why the USAF decided on those for a duty gun. Kind of unnecessary add ons.
Click to expand...
Probably to make it easier to use with gloves on.
 
"carried the X177 M16 sub-machine gun (as it was called)"

I was in the SPs until 1987 (first started out in LE then went into SP) then I was commissioned and left the field to take over an NBC unit. Went back to the cops in early 1996 until I retired in late 2000 as a SFS commander. We had a few X177 when I was enlisted. By the time I came back to the career field they had been replaced.

"Model 12 Trench shotguns were also a choice if you wished."

When I went back as cmdr in 1996 we had no shotguns in inventory so I ordered some. We immediately received 4. All were Model 12s and looked like they were brand new, never issued. I can only assume they were reissued, refurbs and if so they guys at Lackland did a great job restoring them.


"I also am glad to see there still some of us left that remember the term "Air Police"."

I've got an old "Air Police" badge somewhere with all my stuff.


"The standard load out was 6 in the revolver and 12 more in a leather "dump-pouch"."

I still have my leather with the dump pouches.


Sorry for the off topic. Just reminiscing.
 
ISP 2605-

Yes, cop school (eight weeks) was at Lackland in 1963. I passed out second man in my class, as I recall.

I was seldom issued a shoulder-fired weapon, usually just had the .38 or .45 and a nightstick.

On major alerts, we drew .30 carbines, although some units had AR-15' s or M-16's, whichever designation they used at the time. We did carry shotguns when escorting prisoners, and I saw a smorgasbord of M12's, Stevens pumps, and maybe an Ithaca M37 or two, Not real sure about the latter. I was surprised to see no M870's, but think what we had was all WW II leftovers.
The shotguns were also issued the one time we had a disturbance, which was racial. Fortunately, it got settled without bloodshed.

Lone Star
 
Lone Star,
How about starting a separate thread and telling about the various weapon systems you saw while in and what the SP career field was like. Your time in the USAF was a transition period for weapons with the AR-15 coming on board, as puppy pusher, and might enlighten some of the uninformed what the SPs actually did beside wear out boot leather on concrete and count rivet holes. Would be an interesting read for us "younger" former SPs.
 
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