Warbird Information Exchange

i read in "general aviation news" that the usaf museum will be receiving a historically significant c-141 starlifter transport that is a vietnam war veteran. the specific aircraft serial number is not known to me, but this particular bird was responsible in the repatriation of over 500 american prisoners of war held by north vietnam during that conflict. it is due to arrive may 5th, 2006. the event should be a rather bittersweet but poignant day for our former vietnam war era p.o.w.'s. happy new year to you all!! tom

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

C-141A s/n 66-0177 The Hanoi Taxi.

Jim

That'll be a real short flight. Considering that she's still on active duty less than 2 miles from the Museum now. I imagine that the 6 or 7 other "StarLizards" are slotted other museums around the country aswell when the era comes to an end.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

who's paying the air crew's mileage??? it's based on a .40 cents per mile for work related travel in the work world today. hope they don't fly it to it's last destination on a full tank!! seriously though..... it should make a great display, & 1 with roots for all p.o.w.s. regardless if they were aviators or ground pounders.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I believe that aircraft was re-painted in the 1960's - 1970's paint scheme of white over grey during it's last PDM. This was in anticipation of it being donated to the museum..........

Hanoi Taxi' Gets New Paint Job





The "Hanoi Taxi," Air Force's flying tribute to the Vietnam War's prisoners of war, has received a makeover. The C-141 Starlifter was the first aircraft to airlift American POWs to freedom from Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport on February 12, 1973.

The 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, which owns the aircraft, received Air Force Reserve Command permission to repaint the aircraft in the 1970s white and gray paint scheme. AFRC funded the work, which was done while the aircraft underwent programmed depot maintenance at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga.

Air Force Reserve Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, one of the POWs repatriated aboard the Hanoi Taxi, flew the aircraft back to Wright-Patterson. "It was the most beautiful thing I had seen in six years," said Mechenbier, referring to the first time he saw the Hanoi Taxi. A command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours, he is the mobilization assistant to the commander, Air Force Materiel Command.

Mechenbier flew an F-4C Phantom out of Da Nang AB, Vietnam, on his 80th mission over North Vietnam when he was shot down in June 1967. He spent nearly six years as a POW.

Inscriptions on the flight engineer's panel prompted the name for the plane. Signatures of the freed prisoners were preserved on the panel and are the centerpiece of what is essentially a "flying museum."

The aircraft, which has been upgraded to a C-141C with improved avionics, is used for worldwide missions. It is one of four C-141s flown by the 445th AW that were involved in Operation Homecoming. The Air Force plans to retire all C-141s by 2006.

taken by 3 drunk guys

Here is Hanoi Taxi at Westover ARB for the airshow. I was really hoping that I would have a chance to catch her an airshow while still on active-duty. I'll definatly be there for when she fly to the museum though come hell or high water.

Shay
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Semper Fortis