1.
GV FC-47
0.09

2.
CU FITTER PAN ALONG MINI-GUN
0.17

3.
CU SIX BARRELS OF GUN
0.22

4.
CU AMMUNITION BEING FED INTO BARREL
0.29

5.
SV THREE GUNS OUT OF FUSELAGE
0.32

6.
CU TWO OF THE GUNS
0.34

7.
GV TAKE OFF OF AIRCRAFT
0.37

8.
GROUND TO AIR AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
0.41

9.
MV GUNNER
0.43

10.
CU BULLETS ON DRUM
0.46

11.
CU HANDLE TURNED FIRING GUN
0.50

12.
CU MUZZLE FIRING
0.53

13.
CU HANDLE TURNED
0.54

14.
CU MUZZLE FIRING
0.56

15.
CU BULLET BELT FEEDING GUN
0.57

16.
CU MUZZLE FIRING
0.59

17.
AIR TO GROUND TARGET AREA
1.03

18.
CU FIRING
1.05

19.
AIR TO GROUND TARGET AREA
1.08

20.
AIR TO AIR AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
1.10

21.
SCU MUZZLE OF GUN
1.13

22.
CU AMMUNITION BELT
1.15

23.
AERIAL VIEW SMOKE TARGET IN WATER (2 SHOTS)
1.21

24.
CU GUNNER EMPTIES BULLET CASES OVERBOARD
1.26



Initials DE/S/JF/SA RM/S/JF/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A SQUADRON OF FC-47 AIRCRAFT BELONGING TO THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE HAVE RECENTLY GONE INTO SERVICE WITH AMERICAN FORCES IN SOUTH VIETNAM AS "FIRE SUPPORT" AIRCRAFT. THIS MEANS THE AIRCRAFT WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT FRIENDLY FORCES IN ACTION AGAINST THE VIETCONG. THE AIRCRAFT ARE EQUIPPED WITH MODERN MINI-GUNS EACH OF WHICH IS ABLE TO FIRE AS MANY AS 6,000 ROUNDS A MINUTE.

THE FC-47 AIRCRAFT ARE BETTER KNOWN TO CIVILIANS AS DC-3's. CIVILIAN MODELS OF THESE PLANES WERE ONCE SEEN ON ALMOST EVERY MAJOR AIRPORT IN THE WORLD -- AND THERE ARE MANY COUNTRIES WHERE THEY STILL PLAY A BIG PART IN THE AIR NETWORKS.

IN SOUTH VIETNAM THE AIRCRAFT WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF SUPPLEMENTARY TASKS AS WELL AS THE MAIN ONE OF BEING "FIRE SUPPORT" CRAFT. THEY MAY BE USED TO BACK UP HEAVY AIR STRIKES BY JET BOMBERS -- OR AS LONG ENDURANCE ESCORTS FOR CONVOYS. THE FUEL CAPACITY OF THOSE AIRCRAFT MEANS THAT THEY COULD LOITERS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME NEAR THE TARGET AREA.

THE PROTOTYPE HAS BEEN IN SOUTH VIETNAM FOR SOME TIME. IT HAS BECOME AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AMONG AMERICAN SERVICEMEN THERE AS "PUFF, THE MAGIC DRAGON". THE NICKNAME DERIVES FROM THE ROAR OF THE GUNS -- WHICH IN A SINGLE AIRCRAFT HAVE A COMBINED FIREPOWER OF 18,000 ROUNDS A MINUTE -- AND THE FLAME FORM THE TRACER BULLETS WHICH SOMETIMES SEEMS TO FORM A SOLID STREAM OF FIRE FROM THE AIRCRAFT TO THE GROUND.