Puff the Magic Dragon

[Jonathon Green]

from Gregory R Clark _Words of the Vietnam War_ (1990)

AC-47 (Spooky, Gooney Bird, Dragon-ship, Puff-the-Magic Dragon)  C-47
aircraft modified to perform as a gunship, beginning in November '65. The
C-47 was redesignated the AC-47 and was fitted with three electrically
operated 7.62mm Gatling guns (miniguns), each firing 6,000 rounds per minute
from an altitude of 4,000 feet. The ship also carried a large supply of
aerial flares. The gunship was ftequently called out at night to provide
support to friendly ground units. It was also used for interdiction missions
along enemy supply lines in Laos and Cambodia. In '69 some USAF AC-47s were
gradually transferred to VNAF and replaced by the AC-130 gunship. The
gunships were operated by U.S. Air Force crews of the Air Commandos and
Special Operations Squadrons. See also AC-130,

The song was a hit in 1963.

Jonathon Green