Vietnam-War-Fairchild-C123-Provider-r

The Fairchild C-123 Provider is an American military transport aircraft that served with the United States Air Force and its reserve and National Guard units, as well as several other nations. It is perhaps best known for its work in Vietnam, where it was used to deliver supplies and to evacuate wounded soldiers. It also took part in Operation Ranch Hand, a defoliation operation, and was even employed as a VIP transport for General William Westmoreland (who nicknamed it his White Whale).

The C-123's first recipients were USAF transport units, but its use would soon be extended to other branches of the armed forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard for search and rescue missions, and the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Team, the "Thunderbirds," which at one point used them as logistics support for their ground crews and equipment. It was also exported worldwide under various U.S. military assistance programs.

During suster123 , many C-123s were modified for specialized tasks. Several were converted to the armed NC-123K model for nighttime operations over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, equipped with forward looking infrared systems, low light level television cameras, laser rangefinders, and cluster bomb dispensers; this mission became known as Project "Duck Hook". Other modifications included upgrading some C-123Bs to the UC-123A, which added two wing-mounted turbojets and improved navigational sensors.

Other C-123s were used as "flare ships" to illuminate targets for fixed wing gunships such as the AC-47 and the AC-119G. This role, which was called Candle, was flown by the 14th Special Operations Wing. Despite the low kill count for this type of mission, it was considered highly effective due to the speed and maneuverability of the Provider.

A number of C-123s were also used as VIP transports for high-profile officials, including the President's limousine. The VC-123C was an especially well-suited version of the aircraft for this role, as it had a rear luggage compartment that could be enlarged to accommodate the presidential party.

In addition to these specialized roles, the C-123 was frequently used to spray herbicides in Vietnam, and a few were configured as sampans for Agent Orange towing. The last C-123s in active U.S. military service were retired from the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard in the early 1980s, although some went to the USDA for miscellaneous programs.

A few EC-123As were fitted with a "pantograph" system developed by Stroukoff, which added wing mounted floats and a redesigned tailwheel assembly for landing on water or snow. This variant was designated YC-123E and was produced in limited numbers. The floats were retracted when the aircraft was at rest on land or ice. Despite this modification, the EC-123E remained structurally similar to the standard model. The only surviving prototype was later upgraded to a C-123K, receiving a boundary layer control system and the new Pantobase landing gear. It is now on display at the Naval Aviation Museum of Hawaii.