I talked to a former Vietnam POW who said that Nixon’s Christmas Bombing was felt in their POW camp. Our B-52s were bombing so extensively, that the ground was vibrating and the POWs could feel it. Not long after that, he said their treatment improved. Unknown to them at the time, they would soon be going home.
I never forgot that story and the brave hero that told it to me.
Here’s an awesome video for Freeper vets:
C-141 Tail Number 60177 was the last of the 285 C-141’s built by Lockheed to leave active service. She flew 100 POWs out of Hanoi on 12 February 1973, some of them tasting freedom for the first time in six years. Each POW put their shot-down date on the face of the oxygen panel during their flight to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. For her retirement ceremony, some of the POWs she brought home were brought back for the ceremony and one last flight by this gracious lady. Most of them are old men now but their enthusiasm, emotions, and excitement were evident during this flight and retirement ceremony. She was then flown to Dayton, Ohio where she will spend her final days in the Air Force Museum.
A very touching video - Be sure to turn on the sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BM09bxf3Ng
Thank you very much, ExTexasRedhead.
Thanks, ExTexasRedhead for the video! I actually played a part in the rescue of the POW’s out of Hanoi and haven’t seen that video. I was a C-141 jock. Thanks again.
I could tell you a lot of stories about our flights on the C-141. One was to Kiev USSR with a presidential support mission. Nixon had just gone to China as the first modern day President to do so and turned around and went to USSR to tell them they were still our friends. We flew out of Tehran, Iran to Kiev then back with the White House communication people. I have tie tacks, pins etc with Nixon’s signature on them. Perhaps some day they will be worth something.
If you are interested in details from that trip let me know, some are very funny.
Thanks
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