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

C-123B-4-FA in service with the Royal Thai Air Force in March 1971. ( Photographer: Arie de Winter )

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.

A very early Provider, converted in the 1960s from C-123B to C-123K (underwing jet pods, larger wheels). To MASDC on 5 Feb 1982 for a very brief stay, inventory code CP066. Acquired by TBM Inc. and registered to them as N3142D on 22 Jun 1982. Converted to airtanker in Feb 1984 as tanker #63, and painted in the markings seen here. Withdrawn from use in 1987, sold to Hemet Valley Flying Service in 1988, but not operated. Transferred to the US Forest Service in Oct 1989, then loaned to the Pima Air Museum in early 1990.

Ex USAF 55-4505, operated for the US Coast Guard from 1960 until 1972 as 4505, then stored at MASDC until acquired by the Pima Air Museum in September 1978. Note that all USCG C-123B Providers are widely quoted as HC-123B, but this is incorrect. They were used for LORAN site checks and other non-SAR duties, and were never equipped for SAR missions. As a result, they did not receive the "H" type prefix, and all official USCG documention consistently refers to them as "C-123B".

This C-123B-15-FA has been operated by the USAF (as 55-4569) and the Royal Saudi Air Force. It was returned to the USAF and modified to a C-123K and transferred to the Royal Thai Air Force during June 1973. Photographer: Arie de Winter

Originally delivered as a C-123B, this Provider was converted to a C-123K and later to UC-123K with spray equipment to dispense herbicide defoliants such as Agent Orange over the Vietnamese forests under Operation Ranch Hand. It is reckoned that the C-123s engaged in this controversial work were the most shot-at aerial targets of the Vietnam War, taking over 7,000 hits. 54-0633 continued to serve until April 1982 when it was retired, being flown to Robins AFB in 1988

Assigned to the 346th TCS, Pope AFB, NC until October 1964 as a C-123B, this aircraft was then flown to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam serving until 1967 when returned to Eglin AFB for modification to the K-model. It was deployed back to Vietnam operating from Phan Rang AB until March 1972 when reassigned to the Air Force Reserve at Lockborne AFB, OH. In October 1981 the aircraft was installed in the Air Park, representing one of the Providers used to disperse the defoliant Agent Orange, although it never flew in that configuration

On the apron at Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum. C-123s were the first tactical transports deployed in Jan 1962 to Vietnam. Flying defoliation missions under Ranch Hand, resupply under Mule Train and covert ops with SOS units and Air America, the C-123 was used for over a decade. Converted from the 'B' model, the 'K' featured 12.68 kN J85-GE-17 auxiliary jet pods. This aircraft wore camo when it went to Honduras in 1986 where it was registered as HR-ALK with Trans Costa Rica and wore the name "No Problemas." It was impounded at Ft Lauderdale in 1989 and eventually went to the museum.

This former USAF Provider had originally been built as a C-123B but was later converted to C-123J. It was placed in storage at MASDC in 1976 and delivered to the RoKAF the following year. Since 1995 it is on display in the Seoul war museum. Seen here after sunset and after a fresh paint job.

Photo by Thomas Hildreth.

Two Providers, 54-0706 in front, and 54-0661 at the DMI yard being prepaired for another flying career. Notice the steep climbing A-10 in the background.

Photographer unknown - Built as C-123B, then converted to C-123K

Photographer unknown

Photographer unknown - 355 TAS /302 TAW