Lockheed C-141C Starlifter - 66-0177

“Hanoi Taxi” of the 445th AW on display in the Global Reach Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Built as a C-141A, its most significant mission was to airlift the first American POWs to freedom from Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi on 12 Feb 73. It flew two missions, carrying 78 POWs and two civilians to the Philippines. It also brought POWs home from the Philippines four times. The Starlifter was converted to a C-141B and C-141C and continued flying for over three decades, logging more than 40,000 hours. It was flown to the museum in 2006.