I also remember seeing a couple of C-123, a smaller version of the C-130 built by Fairchild. They were used in Viet Nam for defoliation and other missions. They were phased out in the 1990’s. The Coast Guard seemed to get a lot of use from them, but they didn’t really catch on too much in the Air Force except in Reserve/NG units.
About 1969-1971 the C-123 was the only aircraft we jumped from for Special Forces training and currency jumps.
The C-123J, cruising with its JATO units running, was incredibly loud with the jump doors open.
SF C-Teams were too small to justify using the C-130,which the 82nd used for the same missions.
Operation Ranch Hand C-123s would fuel sometimes at our ARMY airfield in the Delta.
A few of those C-123s were returned to the U.S and there were reports of civilian aircrews being exposed to Agent Orange dioxins still within those same aircraft.
I, also, remember the C-123’s in Vietnam. But I guess because they were the primary aircraft used in ‘Nam for dropping orange, I don’t always think of them for cargo use as much. My brain freeze. Ya got me.
wy69