| This is an AC-47, otherwise known as "Puff The Magic
Dragon" after the Peter, Paul, and Mary song of those days. This dragon, however, was
not the benign one of song. Clearly visible on the left side of the aircraft are the
barrels of three 7.62 mm gatling guns protruding from the open windows. Each was capable
of 6,000 rounds per minute (that's correct - 100 rounds a second) for a full output of
18,000 rounds per minute, although the guns were normally only fired one at
a time. The guns were aimed by rolling the aircraft into a left turn and
visually lining up the target with index marks on the left wingtip and the pilot's side
window. The door was left off so that illumination flares could be tossed
out. Spent cases from the guns were collected into ammo cans placed beside
each gun. It was not good to be the object of Puff's attention. This photo was taken at Phu
Cat where the AC-47 squadron was based. |
