The National Museum of the US Air Force now is home to the C-141 known as the Hanoi Taxi for its role in repatriating Vietnam War prisoners of war. It was the last C-141 serving in the Air Force and was flown by members of its last unit, Air Force Reserve Command’s 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, from the “A” side of the base to the “B” side, which houses the museum. As part of a weekend commemoration surrounding the retirement of the Taxi, more than 120 former POWs flew on two of the last three flights made by this historic aircraft.
With a fresh directive from the president, the department could opt to repeat its unconventional—and potentially unlawful—move to pay troops using unused non-personnel appropriations.
