A Stars and Stripes reporter, witnessing the wrath the AC-47 Gunship bringing down VC attackers at night, reported that the visual effect of the tracers, 1 in every 5 rounds or 20 per second, gave the appearance of dragon's breath. Upon reading the account , the CO of the 1st Commando Squadron exclaimed "Well, I'll be damned! Puff, the Magic Dragon".
Captured VC documents later told of orders not to attack the Dragon as weapons are useless and it will only infuriate the monster.