A pair of Providers

[dennis273]

27th May 1978 was a pretty good day at the 'hall. Couldn't believe my eyes when we saw these parked on the hardstands by the road.

C-123K 54-0580 439 TAW


C-123K 56-4375 302TAW
I had this logged as a VC-123K - it was converted to this standard when it was the personal aircraft of General William Westmorland when he was Commander MACV (according to Wiki)
It was however subsequently downgraded back to "normal" configuration - although one google source I read calls it a UC-123K! Presumably the source I used to Id it as a VC-123 (BARG, WLAG?) did not know this.
I remember thinking at the time thinking it a bit odd to be a VC - wouldn't be much of a VIP if you crossed the pond in this

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, not an everyday sight, so most welcome.

[Punkrunner62]

Just brilliant to see this, what a catch, possibly both Vietnam veterans.
Cheers.

[haveblue]

Hi Dennis273. Lovely shots of an aircraft that I only ever saw one of whilst still in active service. Liked most things wrapped in the Vietnam colour scheme.

[viggen091]

These are just exceptional
Every post just gets better and better
Many thanks

[capercaillie]

You have provided us well today. Superb.

[Amp]

Wow, what a great surprise. Lovely shots.

[Thunder]

Very unusual over here, wonder if they were on delivery to another nation at the time?

[Nighthawke]

Never got to see one but cracking images as are all the rest posted so far.

From PlaneBase:

The first is preserved at Pima and the second went to the El Salvador Air Force and is preserved in San Salvador.

[BFM]

Superb and thanks for sharing.

[Ken Cloke]

Abiding memory of Dobbins open house in 1979 when 3 C123s did a formation flypast spraying what I hope was water. I trust the tanks had been well cleaned of Agent Orange!!

[dennis273]

Never got to see one but cracking images as are all the rest posted so far.

From PlaneBase:
The first is preserved at Pima and the second went to the El Salvador Air Force and is preserved in San Salvador.

Cool to know that they are both preserved

Dennis

[eLaReF]

I saw them both that day and then logged 54-0580 again in 1993 at Pima, but it had changed a bit by then

N3142D Fairchild C-123K Provider c/n 20029 ex 54-0580 by eLaReF, on Flickr

[fox4g]

They were in the same weekend as the Bassingbourne Harvard air show. As we were in Cambridgeshire was going to call into the Hall and Heath but decided not to so went home back to Worcs. When I had a call to say the Providers were in I was not happy and missed them so still seen never one.

[eLaReF]

They were in the same weekend as the Bassingbourne Harvard air show.

That was why we were down there - just a few Harvards https://www.flickr.com/photos/elaref/se ... 571197171/

[luxto]

Super post - I remember missing them. Got over it now though. BARG reported them as bringing a group of veterans to Europe, staging through Mildenhall 21/22 May en-route to Rhein Main, returning on the 26 May.

I only recall seeing 6 C-123's - 2 of those based at Sembach in the 60's and 4 Otis based, 1st SOW C-123K's, deployed to Greenham Common for about 3 weeks in Aug - Sep'70 on Exercise Flintlock. What a shock that was!

[paddyboy]

What a stunning pair of shots, Dennis

Thanks for posting those

Paddyboy

[BlueBoy67]

Super post - I remember missing them. Got over it now though. BARG reported them as bringing a group of veterans to Europe, staging through Mildenhall 21/22 May en-route to Rhein Main, returning on the 26 May.

I only recall seeing 6 C-123's - 2 of those based at Sembach in the 60's and 4 Otis based, 1st SOW C-123K's, deployed to Greenham Common for about 3 weeks in Aug - Sep'70 on Exercise Flintlock. What a shock that was!

Flintlock used to get some pretty good visitors. I remember them flying some Army UH1s into Mildenhall in 1979 for that years exercise. Not that there weren't already plenty in Europe. Perhaps they had special kit on board?

[TARGET]

lovely shots.Wasnt such a keen photographer in those days-more a numbers man.Visited Bovingdon on a number of occasions where they were frequent visitors.

[luxto]

lovely shots.Wasnt such a keen photographer in those days-more a numbers man.Visited Bovingdon on a number of occasions where they were frequent visitors.

I just missed out on those but I've seen lots of photo's of them Visiting Bovingdon and elsewhere. Most, if not all, not had time to check them all yet, were from the 60th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium) which was based at Dreux AB, France, from Oct'55 until the Wings inactivation there in Sep'58. The 60th operated the C-123 from 1956 to 58 in addition to C-119's 1951, 53 to 58.