Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

C-123 Provider

Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

1. C-123 Provider Marker

Inscription. The C-123 aircraft was used extensively during peacetime operations and during the Southeast Asia conflict in a multitude of roles which included tactical airlift, Ranch Hand (aerial spray), Candlestick (night illumination), and Blackspot (sensor) missions, all of which complemented the Air Commando / Special Operations mission.

This aircraft memorial is dedicated to those who maintained and flew the C-123 in the defense of freedom. It especially commemorates those who selflessly gave their lives to preserve the ideals of freedom loving people everywhere.

Erected 1981 by the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, Vietnam.

Location. 30° 24.842′ N, 86° 42.024′ W. Marker is in Hurlburt Field, Florida, in Okaloosa County. Marker can be reached from Oneal Avenue. Located at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park and access to the base is restricted. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 Independence Road, Hurlburt Field FL 32544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lieutenant Colonel Joe Madison Jackson (here, next to this marker); Operation Ranch Hand Memorial (a few steps from this marker); *A Grateful Nation Remembers* (a few steps from this marker); Medal of Honor Recipients (within shouting distance of this marker); Special Tactics Memorial

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(within shouting distance of this marker); A-1E Skyraider (within shouting distance of this marker); Major Bernard Francis Fisher (within shouting distance of this marker); Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hurlburt Field.

Regarding C-123 Provider.

C-123K tail #55-4533 history:
Built in 1955 and assigned to the 346th Troop Carrier Squadron, Pope AFB NC aircraft 55-4533 deployed to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam until 1967 and returned to Eglin AFB, FL for upgrade to K-Model. Upon completion of maintenance the Provider returned to Vietnam at Phan Rang AB until reassignment to the USAFR in 1972 at Lockborne OH. Serving the reserves for 10 years and seven months the aircraft was reconfigured to depict a C-123 which dispersed the defoliants or Rainbow Herbacides “Agent Green,” ”Agent Blue,” “Agent Pink,” “Agent Purple” “Agent Orange” and finally “Agent White,” a configuration which 55-4533 never served under. On 11 Oct 1981 this Provider was dedicated at Hurlburt Field.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Fairchild C-123 Provider. (Submitted on November 23, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

C-123 Provider aircraft image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

2. C-123 Provider aircraft

Marker is located at the nose of the aircraft.

C-123 Provider aircraft (Ranch Hand Memorial in foreground). image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

3. C-123 Provider aircraft (Ranch Hand Memorial in foreground).

Public Domain - USAF, 1962

4. C-123 Provider Marker

A U.S. Air Force Fairchild UC-123B Provider "Ranch Hand" aircraft spraying defoliant next to a road in South Vietnam in 1962. "Operation Ranch Hand" was a U.S. Military operation during part of the Vietnam War, lasting from 1962 until 1971. It involved spraying an estimated 72 mio. ltr. (19 mio. US gal.) of (toxic) defoliants over rural areas of South Vietnam in an attempt to deprive the Viet Cong of vegetation cover and food. The USAF planes were marked as South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) planes.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 437 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 23, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.