[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10318-S10319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               HANOI TAXI

  Mr. DeWINE. Madam President, this week, Americans across the country 
will be participating in events to pay tribute to Americans Missing in 
Action and former Prisoners of War (MIAs/POWs). With that in mind, I 
would like to talk about an event that took place on February 12th, 
1973. On that date, a United States Air Force C-141 landed at the Gia 
Lam Airport in Hanoi, North Viet Nam. The crew's mission was to pick up 
and return to the United States the first American POWs from Viet Nam. 
This historic mission signaled the beginning of the end of a period of 
uncertainty for many American POWs and their families. The flight for 
freedom from captivity came to a joyous conclusion when the aircraft 
carrying these soldiers landed at Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii, where 
for the first time in many years, the former POWs once again stepped 
proudly and honorably onto American soil.
  On that day in February 1973, the tail number of the aircraft 
dispatched to Gia Lam was 660177. As the primary cargo aircraft for the 
Air Force at that time, the C-141, and specifically aircraft 660177, 
had flown cargo missions in support of U.S. operations in Viet Nam. To 
this day, many of the former POWs that were on board that first freedom 
flight still remember the tail number--660177. In tribute to the 
historic mission competed by this particular aircraft, flight crew 
members informally named the aircraft the ``Hanoi Taxi.''
  Following the conclusion of activities in Viet Nam, the ``Hanoi 
Taxi'' continued to serve the Air Force as a cargo aircraft. Throughout 
the years, the role this aircraft played in our military history went 
largely unnoticed.
  In 1992, aircraft 660177, was assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing of 
the United States Air Force Reserve at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 
in Ohio. At that time, members from the maintenance squadron of the 
445th Airlift Wing noticed the words ``Hanoi Taxi'' on a label above 
the flight engineer's panel. M/Sgt. Dave Dillon became very interested 
in this unusual appearance and with the assistance of T/Sgt Henry 
Harlow, S/Sgt. Jeff Wittman and T/Sgt. Susan Denlinger, they worked to 
piece together the story behind the name. When they learned of the 
historic mission that gave aircraft 660177 the name ``Hanoi Taxi'', 
personnel from the 445th Airlift Wing began the process of transforming 
the aircraft into a flying tribute to honor those former Prisoners of 
War and those that are still Missing in Action.
  Today, nose art on the ``Hanoi Taxi'' represents the emblem of the 
4th Allied Prisoner of War Wing and a plaque adorns a position of high 
visibility near the flight deck honoring the first 40 individuals that 
made that first flight from Hanoi on February 12, 1973. In addition, 
photographs of the historic mission are placed throughout the aircraft 
to allow those passing through the cabin to see those brave individuals 
who were forced to surrender their own freedom to protect ours.
  For many of the POW's that were on board the ``Hanoi Taxi'', some of 
the

[[Page S10319]]

memories of their captivity have faded over the years, but today the 
number 660177 is the number of freedom--the number of the aircraft that 
reunited them with their friends and families.
  Notable passengers on board the ``Hanoi Taxi'' include retired Navy 
Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton, who later served as a United States 
Senator. Then Air Force Captain Ed Mechenbier also was a passenger. 
Today, Brigadier General Ed Mechenbier still serves his country in the 
United States Air Force Reserve. The significance of the ``Hanoi Taxi'' 
is best illustrated by the following comments General Mechenbier 
provided in a recent interview:

       This airplane is more than a tribute to the POW's that were 
     fortunate to be released in 1973. It reminds us of the 
     service of more than a million Viet Nam era veterans, and it 
     says to those POW/MIAs who did not share in our joy, you are 
     not forgotten.

  This week our Nation honors the sacrifices and dedication to duty, 
honor and country that those Missing in Action and former Prisoners of 
War have provided. As we remember the sacrifice that has been made, let 
us not forget the continuing sacrifice that our present members of our 
armed forces have made as we forge pathways of peace in an ever 
changing environment of world events.

                          ____________________