The aircraft entered service with the USAF around 1954, retired in August 1982 when it was flown to AMARC (inventory number CP0084). To a private owner in February 1986 as N123K. Based at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Texas from November 1987 until 1990. In March 1993, the aircraft was issued a CoA. Withdrawn from use by 1996 and by 2007 placed in open storage at Deer Valley. At some point between 2001 and 2003, the markings and serial were applied and it was used for electronic sensor trials. Finally to a new owner in Alaska, last based at Fairbanks (after 2015). CoA issued in January 2017.

Stroukoff fitted this aircraft with their "Pantobase" landing gear system, which permitted landing on any reasonably flat surface: land, water or snow. Trials were successful and the YC-123E was further developed into the YC-134.
This particular aircraft is widely reported as ex Fairchild-built C-123B 54-554 (c/n 20003), but that seems unlikely because it still has the original Chase tail with rounded tip and no dorsal fin. It is almost certainly one of the uncompleted Chase-built C-123Bs 52-1628 to 52-1631, or the rebuilt YC-123D 53-8068.

Just arrived for storage.

In the early 1980s the Castle Air Museum added many aircraft to its inventory. "Hog Hauler" was one of them, and it arrived in August 1981.

This C-123 was highly polished and reflections off the skin made photographing the aircraft in sunny conditions a bit of a challenge. It hasn't flown since the owner was killed in the crash of C-123K N709RR on the southern flank of Mount Healy, Alaska in 2010.

Previous serial 3-CT-2

Ex-USAF 57-6189. Used as a parachute ground trainer.

Constructed as a C-123B-12-FA and entered service with the USAF as 55-4505 in November 1956. To the USCG in August 1960 as 4505 (as HC-123B). Back to the USAF in March 1972 and stored the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) with inventory number CP0029. To Pima in 1978.

Still operational back in 1999.

C-123B 54-663 converted to C-123K. It was initially preserved at Howard AFB, Canal Zone. Later at Costa Verde Hotel and Resort in San Jose, Costa Rica. In 2016, was serving as a bar and restaurant called "El Avion" in Quepos, Costa Rica, on Manuel Antonio Hill. According to the restaurant, this was one of the two C-123's used during the Iran-Contra affair in 1986

In the Taiwan air force museum