ntonkin Loc: western Upper Peninusla of Michigan

The 8th special operations squadron currently has "Blackbird" or "Black Bird" on their patch which is clearly their nickname/call sign. This squadron flew the MC-130 Combat Talon from 1974 to 2006 when it transitioned to the MV-22 Osprey. The "Blackbird" nickname is still with the squadron, the MC-130s are long gone.

First Flight Loc: PortOConnor Tx

My understanding is the MACV SOG guys actually were where Blackbirds came from. Our aircraft were C-123s painted black with tiger stripes . The 130s took over missions our planes were too small to accomplish.

First Flight Loc: PortOConnor Tx

Just asking, you flew on or flew a Blackbird?
We were First Flight C-123s had the same paint. If any of these folks doubt what you say they can start by looking up Nha Trang First Flight and see how our aircraft couldn’t keep up with the mission demands for MACV SOG and the C-130s were brought over to handle the mission demands. We were the original Blackbirds( black radar absorbing paint with tiger stripes) then the 130s.

First Flight Loc: PortOConnor Tx

Mostly the reason you never heard of 130s as Blackbirds is they were used by MACV for transport and other duties related to MACV SOG . They were brought to Nha Trang when First Flight could no longer handle the increasing mission needs of SOG. Our planes then theirs were painted with black radar absorbing paint then typically a green pattern. Hence , Blackbirds.
Just as an aside on First Flight’s Blackbirds. C-123s, full ECM suite on the starboard side opposite a Morse code operator ( diddy bop) on the port. Permanent wing mounted jet motors.No identifying markings other than a bracket for sliding in different country emblems.Missions flown North were flown by Taiwan Air Force officers . These things were in support of MACV SOG and were continued even after the C-130s took part of the load.

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

The AC-130 was never called the "Blackbird". As others have said, the Blackbird was the SR-71. The AC-130 was often called "Spooky" or "Specter". I was stationed at a Thai Air Force base that had a squadron of AC-130's. It used to be interesting when they took off because they just barely got off the ground because of all the ammo and weapons on board.

jrprendy Loc: Superior WI.

When i was in Viet Nam in 1967 at Tuy Hoa AB Air America had C-130's painted Solid Black.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Yes, CIA and others who officially didn't exist in Vietnam had C-47s, C-123s, C-130s, C-7 Caribou and probably others that were painted flat black (with markings in glossy black) for SOG and other Special Ops missions and the GI just referred to them generically as "Black Birds" The SR71's name is the Blackbird. If you are half asleep that is the difference between birds/planes that are black and the name "Blackbird".

At Qui Nhon they had a special parking area fenced off for them if there wasn't enough room in the hangars to hide them.

During the six months I worked night duty in the jQui Nhon Sub-Area Command's TacOps Center, we often talked to them relaying calls for air support, supply drops etc. A lot of small units and outposts didn't have common radio channels with the planes so they called us, and we called the planes.

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

The "Airline" you are talking about is Air America, a CIA front. But there was also another one called "Southern Air Transport". We saw examples of both while based in Thailand. Air America had primarily black C-130"s. There was a movie made about Air America. The CIA denied knowing about it for the longest time!.