“Puff, the Magic Dragon” wasn’t only a beloved 1960s song by Peter, Paul and Mary—it was also the nickname given to the Douglas AC-47 ‘Spooky,’ the predecessor to the Lockheed AC-130. Originally designed as a cargo plane, the AC-47 was transformed into the first fixed-wing gunship used in Southeast Asia. The aircraft earned its nickname, “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” because of the fiery red glow from its guns, which illuminated the night sky as it flew overhead.
Deployment of Douglas C-47 Skytrains to Vietnam
The predecessor to the AC-47 Spooky was the two-engined Douglas C-47 Skytrain, which was flown extensively by the Allies during the Second World War. The C-47 was brought to Vietnam in November 1961, but was mainly flown as a transport and cargo gunship by the Americans.
Many C-47s were outfitted as “flare ships” and designated FC-47s (“F” for flare, in this case). They’d drop parachute flares over enemy positions during night attacks, and, by November 1963, had deployed more than 7,000.
Development of the Douglas AC-47 Spooky
By 1963, the Viet Cong had intensified their guerrilla tactics under the cover of darkness, highlighting the need for American forces to develop a more effective night air strategy. After much consideration, the U.S. Air Force adopted what is now recognized as the modern fixed-wing gunship concept.
This refers to a fixed-wing aircraft outfitted with heavy armaments mounted on the sides for side-firing operations. While the idea of side-firing gunships was not entirely new—having been suggested in the years leading up to World War II—it wasn’t until 1963 that the concept was fully realized.
The C-47 Skytrain was chosen as the test platform for the first fixed-wing gunship because it met all the necessary criteria. The success of this gunship design relied on the aircraft’s capacity to deliver concentrated fire on enemy targets while offering enough power and space to carry the required weaponry. As a cargo aircraft, the C-47 could transport large loads of munitions, and its propeller-driven design provided the maneuverability needed for such precise operations.
‘Spooky’ experiments
By mid-December 1964, modifications to the C-47 Skytrain were completed. Initially, this new type of aircraft was designated the FC-47, for “fighter/cargo.” However, fighter pilots were upset with the “fighter” categorization; they refused to believe that a slow cargo aircraft could be a fighter. To appease them, the new aircraft was designated AC-47, meaning “attack/cargo.”
Testing of the AC-47 began in Vietnam in late 1964. On December 14, it flew its first daytime combat mission, firing on enemy boats, trails and staging areas. The aircraft’s first night mission occurred on December 23, 1964. During the attack, the AC-47 fired over 4,500 rounds of ammunition and dropped a total of 17 flares. Its efforts successfully halted the Viet Cong assault.
The AC-47 continued to be successfully tested throughout early 1965. In fact, these trials were so successful that an AC-47 was sent to the United States to provide crew training. That July, the US Air Force ordered officers with Training, Advising and Counseling (TAC) to establish an AC-47 squadron. In August, the 4th Air Commando Squadron was created. It operated five aircraft upon its inception, with 26 equipped by the end of the year.
Weaponizing the Douglas AC-47 Spooky
The C-47 Skytrain’s external design remained unchanged as it was converted into an attack aircraft. Three M134 Miniguns were installed internally to fire through two rear window openings and the side cargo door, all located on the left side of the aircraft—the pilot’s side.
Mounting the weapons on the left side was crucial for delivering close-air support to ground forces. With a rate-of-fire of 6,000 RPM, the Miniguns were capable of hitting every square foot of a football field within a single minute. A MK.20 Mod.4 gunsight was also added to the left cockpit window.
The M134 Miniguns could be operated by either the pilot or the gunners. However, the pilot primarily controlled them since the firing controls were located on the yoke. The gunners’ primary role aboard the AC-47 was to oversee the guns’ performance and carry out any necessary repairs.
From ‘Spooky’ to ‘Puff’
As the AC-47 Spooky saw more action, its nickname changed. “Puff, the Magic Dragon” was the moniker given to the aircraft by ground troops. Not only did it spew glowing red emissions, but the roar made by the M134 Miniguns sounded just like a roaring dragon. In fact, the nickname became so mainstream that its official sign was changed from “Spooky” to “Puff” in some areas.
As the number of aircraft and crews increased, the 4th Air Commando Squadron deployed the AC-47 to Nha Trang, Đà Nẵng, Pleiku, Biên Hòa and Binh Thuy. In 1956 alone, they flew 277 combat missions and fired 137,136 rounds and 2,548 flares.
During this initial start-up period, the 4th Air Commando Squadron only lost two AC-47s, making the US Air Force confident in the aircraft. The aircraft distinguished itself across an estimated 4,000 missions in South Vietnam and Laos, accounting for over 5,300 enemy kills.
Replaced by newer, more modern gunships
By 1969, the Ac-47 Spooky was beginning to show extreme wear and tear. It wasn’t practical to keep rebuilding and maintaining the gunships, especially as the more sophisticated AC-130 and Fairchild AC-119s were beginning to arrive in Vietnam.
Slowly, Puff, the Magic Dragon was transitioned out of mainstream use, and the last American AC-47 combat mission happened on December 1, 1969. Of the 53 delivered to Vietnam, about 41 of them saw combat during the Vietnam War.
The AC-47 was eventually replaced first with the Lockheed AC-130A Spectre, followed by the AC-119G Shadow, AC-119K Stinger and, finally, the AC-130E Pave Spectre. While these gunships were more modern, they wouldn’t have been as effective if it hadn’t been for the success of Puff, the Magic Dragon.
Other nations have equipped the Douglas AC-47 Spooky
While the US Air Force retired the AC-47 Spooky from active duty, other air forces worldwide have – and still – equip the aircraft. In December 1984 and January ’85, the United States supplied two to El Salvador and trained crews on how to operate them. As well, Thailand, Cambodia, South Africa and Uruguay were among the countries to once fly the gunship.
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Currently, the Columbian Air Force is the only one to still fly the AC-47, a variant known as the Basler BT-67. The 214th Tactical Air Support Squadron has about six in its inventory.
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