56-4362 was accepted by the USAF in 1957 as a C-123B and went to Vietnam in 1961 to fly as a low-level defoliant sprayer. In 1965, it was redesignated to UC-123B. At about the same time, it became a dedicated insecticide sprayer to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and in 1968 Fairchild converted it to a UC-123K. By then named "Patches" in view of almost 600 bullet hits in theatre, it returned to the US in 1972 via Afghanistan and Iran where it helped combat locust plagues. Lastly operated for AFRes as a C-123K until retirement to the museum in 1980

13 Sep '57: TOS USAF as a C-123B as 56-4362. 1962 to 1972: Deployed to South Vietnam as sprayer. Jan '72: 377th Air Base Wing,Tan Son Nhut. By this time the aircraft had received nearly 600 hits in combat and was nicknamed "Patches" for all the metal patches covering the holes.  The crew earned seven Purple Hearts.  1972: Became the first and only C-123 to fly completely around the world when it returned to the USA by way of Afghanistan and Iran, where it assisted in the fight against a plague of locusts. Jan 73: Redesignated C-123K and decontaminated of Agent Orange. 1980: Flew to the Air Force Museum.

Ex USAF 56-4362. Returned to the USAF in 1972.

This a/c was flown to the USAF Museum in June 1980, just three months before this slide was taken. It is parked near the museum restoration hangar across the airfield from the museum, which can be seen in the background. It is currently on display inside the museum.

This Provider on display at the National Museum of the USAF was accepted by the USAF in 1957 and saw extensive service in Vietnam as a 'Ranch Hand' sprayer (possibly the most ill-conceived and reckless program ever devised by the USAF). The aircraft took almost 600 hits in combat so was named 'Patches' for the damage repairs that covered it. In addition, seven of its crew received the Purple Heart for wounds received in the line of duty.