How did the AC-47 get its nickname?

Short answer

It had two names: the nickname "Puff, the Magic Dragon", taken from a popular song by the trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and the radio call sign "Spooky". The nickname came from the intense night-time light show it produced. It was also called "Puff" and "Dragonship".

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar '12566 - 566Alan Wilson from Weston, Spalding, Lincs, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons

Puff, the Magic Dragon

The AC-47 was nicknamed "Puff, the Magic Dragon". The name was borrowed from a popular song of the same title by the trio Peter, Paul and Mary. The gunship came to be known this way because of the intense night-time light show it produced. The aircraft also received affectionate nicknames such as "Puff" and "Dragonship".

From "Puff" to "Spooky"

Under its first designation, FC-47, the aircraft often operated under the radio call sign "Puff", taken from the then-popular song. It soon changed to "Spooky", suggested by its characteristic night-time operations, and that was the call sign assigned to the first gunship operations.

Three miniguns in the night

Under the Spooky call sign, each of its three 7.62mm miniguns could selectively fire 50 or 100 rounds per second. Combat reports indicate that no village or hamlet under Spooky's protection was ever lost.