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Information > Heritage > History Spotlight
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POWs, AF Reserve retire Hanoi Taxi; last C-141 flies to National Museum of the USAF
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The "Hanoi Taxi", a C-141 Starlifter flies over the Museum of the United States Air Force here. The aircraft with the 445th Airlift Wing is one of the Air Force's four remaining C-141s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Ted Theopolos)
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020506
More than 120 former prisoners from the Vietnam War and their families will help the Air Force Reserve's 445th Airlift Wing retire the Air Force's last C-141, the "Hanoi Taxi" during festivities May 5-6.
The C-141 "Hanoi Taxi" was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi in February 1973 to pick up the POWs returning to the United States. The "Hanoi Taxi" was one of several aircraft involved in repatriating more than 500 American POWs held by the North Vietnamese.
There are numerous live feed opportunities for morning and afternoon shows.
POWs will participate on two flights at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, commemorating Operation Homecoming in 1973. Some POWs will be available for interviews throughout the day. Media will be provided with B-roll from the flights, and will have access to the day's festivities and more than 50 spokespersons until about 7 p.m.
The Hanoi Taxi will depart the 445th Airlift Wing at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, May 6, make several passes above the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and make its final landing at 9:30 at the museum, located next to Wright Patterson AFB. Media interested in covering the departure of the aircraft from Wright Patterson AFB base operations and its arrival at the museum should be prepared to send a crew to each location due to travel time constraints. In case of rain, a small ceremony will take place inside the museum and the Hanoi Taxi will be flown to the museum at a later date.
The film, "Return with Honor," will play at 1:30 p.m. May 6 in the museum's Carney Auditorium and a former POW will be available to answer questions after the film.
An exhibit, titled "Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia," located in the museum's Modern Flight Gallery will be open to the public May 5.
To RSVP for the POW flights May 5 and the C-141 departure from Wright-Patterson AFB May 6, please call 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs at (937) 257-3461.
To RSVP for the aircraft arrival and ceremony at the museum please call the National Museum of the United States Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-4704, Ext. 333.
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