Operation Dumbo Drop

Operation Dumbo Drop (1995)

Operation Dumbo Drop is a 1995 Disney family film directed by Simon Wincer and tells the true story of the journey taken by several US servicemen to deliver an elephant to a friendly Montagnard tribe during the Vietnam War. The film's cast included Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, and Doug E. Doug.

The following weapons were used in the film Operation Dumbo Drop:

Rifles

Colt Model 715 with A1 Triangular Handguard

With the exception of Lt. David Poole (Denis Leary), all the US soldiers in the film appear to be armed with Colt Model 715s built up as M16A1s with A1-style triangular handguards. The ARVN Soldiers and C-123 airmen also utilize the Colt Model 715. They are fitted with A1-style buttstocks, pistol grips, A1 birdcage flash hiders, handguards and forward assists.

Colt Model 715 5.56x45mm

Capt. Doyle (Ray Liotta) with his Colt Model 715 and a Nestle Crunch bar.

Harvey Ashford (Doug E. Doug) nervously fingers his rabbit's foot over his 715.

Farley (Corin Nemec) with his 715.

Doyle stands guard in the rain with his 715.

Sam Cahill (Danny Glover) with his 715.

Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II

At one point, the rifle carried by Harvey Ashford (Doug E. Doug) changes from a Colt Model 715 to a different rifle, possibly a Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II. This rifle has triangular handguards, an A1 style pistol grip, and possibly an A1 style buttstock. The barrel is not visible though, so the rifle can't be thoroughly identified.

Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II, early model with A1 upper receiver and magazine removed - 5.56x45mm

Harvey Ashford (Doug E. Doug) snickers while holding his rifle. He was previously holding a Colt Model 715, but it switched to a different rifle in this scene. It's possibly a Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II since it has the same upper receiver as an M16A1, but has a flat "slab side" lower receiver. This gun also has triangular handguards, A1 style pistol grip, and possibly an A1 buttstock.

Norinco Type 56

The Norinco Type 56 is used by all NVA soldiers in the film. Some of them are also fitted with AKM-style slant compensators.

Type 56 assault rifle aka M22, early milled receiver model without under-folding ("pig sticker") bayonet - 7.62x39mm

Col. Nguyen (Hoang Ly) holds out a Norinco Type 56 to his reluctant subordinate, Lt. Quang (Vo Trung Anh).

NVA soldiers aim their Type 56 rifles (Note that these Type 56s are resin stunt replicas as evidenced by the filled in barrels).

Col. Nguyen (Hoang Ly) points his Type 56 at the Americans.

Nguyen's soldiers holding their Type 56s.

Probably not the best idea to keep the captured Type 56s with their loaded magazines so close to the POWs.

SKS Bandolier Goof

A continuity error shows NVA soldiers carrying chest rigs with pouches meant for SKS magazines instead of AK-style mags.

Despite being armed with Type 56s these NVA soldiers have SKS bandoliers.

Handguns

Tokarev TT-33

When the NVA spies jump everyone in the city, one of them is armed with a Tokarev TT-33.

Tokarev TT-33 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Cahill takes the pistol.

Browning Hi-Power

Lt. David Poole (Denis Leary) and Capt. T.C. Doyle (Ray Liotta) carry Browning Hi-Power pistols as sidearms instead of the standard issue M1911A1.

FN P-35 - 9x19mm

Poole (Denis Leary) with his Browning Hi-Power.

Poole pulls out his HP while taking cover.

Poole with his HP drawn.

Machine Guns

M60 Machine Gun

The M60 machine gun is briefly seen in a US pillbox guarding the base.

M60 7.62x51mm NATO

The M60 machine gun is briefly seen in a US pillbox guarding the base.

M60D Machine Gun

The M60D machine gun can be seen door-mounted on all UH-1 Huey helicopters in the film.

M60D 7.62x51mm NATO

The door gunner prepares to use the M60D.

The door gunner opens fire.

The door gunner fires the M60D.

A UH-1 "Huey" with the door-mounted M60D machine guns.

DShK Heavy Machine Gun

The NVA use a DShK heavy machine gun with anti-aircraft sights to shoot the C-123 carrying the elephant and the servicemen. The machine gun crew then aim the weapon at the US soldiers as they bail out, but are not allowed to fire on them.

DShK 12.7x109mm

The NVA crew readies the DShK.

The DShK seen at the left. This appears to be an actual DShK and not a mocked up M2.

View through the anti-aircraft sight.

Other

M26 Hand Grenade

The M26 hand grenade is worn by several US soldiers in the film and one is used to scare Spc. Ashford (Doug E. Doug) out of his Hooch.

At the right, Capt. Doyle (Ray Liotta) carries two grenades on his belt.

M18 Smoke Grenade

Several M18 Smoke Grenade are worn on Spc. Farley's radio pack.

M18 smoke grenade

Several M18 Smoke Grenade are worn on Spc. Farley's radio pack.

M18 Recoilless Rifle

In the prologue, there is a standoff between an NVA mortar crew and US Army troops manning on an M18 Recoilless Rifle mounted on an M151 MUTT.

M18 Recoilless Rifle with tripod - 57mm

The sight is used.

US Army troops manning a M151 MUTT mounted Recoiless Rifle.

The recoilless about to be fired.

M2 Mortar

In the prologue, there is a NVA mortar crew operating what appears to be an M2 Mortar.

M2 Mortar - 60mm

Weapons Platforms

M197 Vulcan

M197 Vulcans can be seen on AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters.

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20mm.

AH-1 Cobra taking off near the beginning of the film.