This would allow the craft to sustain continuous fire on a relatively small area.Ī cargo or transport-type craft was needed for the huge amounts of munitions required, and it had to be propeller driven, because jet aircraft were much too fast for the precision maneuvers necessary. The flying maneuver that was necessary for this type of precision fire mission was to circle the enemy position in a tightly banked “pylon turn” while firing from side-mounted guns. The chosen craft also had to have enough power and cargo space to carry the necessary armament and heavy loads of ordnance. The effectiveness of such a gunship was dependent upon its ability to direct concentrated fire on enemy positions in near proximity to friendly forces. After much deliberation, and because of the diligence and persistence of several young Air Force Officers, the modern concept of the fixed-wing gunship was accepted.
In November 1963, FC-47s flung more than seven thousand flares over enemy positions.ĭue to increased night activity by the Viet Cong (VC) in 1963, it soon became apparent that a better night air effort was necessary. Shortly after their arrival, many C-47s were outfitted as “flare ships” and designated FC-47 (“F” for flare) to drop huge parachute flares over enemy positions during night attacks. The predecessor of the first fixed-wing gunship used in Southeast Asia was the WWII twin-engined C-47 (DC-3) “Gooney Bird,” which was first brought to Vietnam as a transport and cargo ship in November 1961. The mighty dragon Puff evolved from very humble beginnings. The Evolution of Puff, the Magic Dragon Plane Nothing moved in the eerie glare of the last flare as it floated slowly to the earth. The drone of his huge engines faded into the distance and a deathly silence lingered over the battlefield. When daylight began Puff’s work was done. Puff the Magic Dragon flew back and forth over the battlefield that night in 1967, dropping huge two million-candle-power parachute flares and occasionally lighting up the sky with his fiery red breath. The sound was indescribable, a deep guttural roar that anyone who has ever heard and lived, will always remember.
When Puff unleashed that first six-second burst every man knew instantly what it was. Puff! Puff The Magic Dragon plane was predecessor to the Lockheed AC-130. The sound got steadily louder, when suddenly a curtain of red fire erupted from the sky and rained down on the rice paddies in front of us. Off in the distance came the faint drone of a large propeller-driven aircraft.
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