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A recently released from a prisoner of war departs Clark Air Base en route to Travis Air Force Base, California

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Summary

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

Country: Philippines (PHL)

Scene Camera Operator: Wright

Release Status: Released to Public

Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

On January 27, 1973, the United States agreed to a ceasefire with North Vietnam allowing withdrawal of American military forces from South Vietnam. The agreement also included the release of about 600 American prisoners of war. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 flew to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam to pick up released prisoners of war. The first flight of 40 U.S. prisoners of war left Hanoi in a C-141A, later known as the "Hanoi Taxi". From February 12 to April 4, there were 54 C-141 missions flying out of Hanoi, bringing the former POWs home, the total number of returned was 591. The return of the nearly 600 POWs increased the polarization of the public and media. A majority of the POWs returned in Operation Homecoming were bomber pilots shot down while carrying out the campaign waged against civilian targets located in Vietnam and Laos. Many viewed the freed POWs as heroes, while others questioned if treating these men as heroes served to distort and obscure the truth about the war. Some felt these men deserved to be treated as war criminals or left in the North Vietnamese prison camps. Many worried that Homecoming hid the fact that people were still fighting and dying on the battlefields of Vietnam and caused the public to forget about the over 50,000 American lives the war had already cost. Veterans of the war had similar thoughts concerning Operation Homecoming with many stating that the ceasefire and returning of prisoners brought zero sense of an ending or closure. Operation Homecoming has been largely forgotten by the American public.

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prisoner war clark clark air base route travis air force base clark air base philippines air force pow prisoners of war philippines vietnam war prisoners exchange commission vietcong hanoi high resolution us air force usaf air force base military parades us national archives vietnam pow
date_range

Date

01/01/1973
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in collections

Hanoi Taxi

Operation Homecoming
place

Location

create

Source

The U.S. National Archives
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Link

https://catalog.archives.gov/
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No known copyright restrictions

label_outline Explore Vietnam Pow, Hanoi, Prisoner

During a candlelight vigil, the US Air Force (USAF) 39th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) members and the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) Chapter 1660, raise the Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action (POW/MIA) flag, at Incirlik Air Base (AB), Turkey

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter presents a gift

US COAST GUARD Hanoi event

U.S. soldiers with 512th Military Police Company, 2nd

LCOL Daniel James Doughty (Captured 2 Apr 67) at the microphones talks to people who came out to greet the returning POWs on their nighttime arrival at Scott. LCOL Doughty was released by the North Vietnamese in Hanoi on 12 Feb 73

Vietnamese sailors stand in review during a welcoming

Former POW and U.S. Air Force LCOL Lewis Wiley Shattuck (Captured 11 Jul 66) salutes the American Flag upon his arrival on the C-141 Starlifter from Clark Air Base, Philippines. In the background MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James await the next returnee to deplane. LCOL Shattuck was in the first group of POWs released on 12 Feb 73 by the North Vietnamese government in Hanoi

Former POW and U.S. Air Force LCOL James Quincy Collins Jr. talks with escorts and other POWs in the passenger lounge after his arrival from Clark Air Base, Philippines. LCOL Collins was captured on 2 Sep 65 and released by the North Vietnamese in Hanoi on 12 Feb 73

Members of the US Air Force (USAF) base Honor Guard retire the Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action (POW/MIA) flag during a special Recognition Day retreat at Incirlik Air Base (AB), Turkey, during Operation NORTHERN WATCH

Ex-POW and U.S. Air Force MAJ Hubert K. Flesher (Captured 2 Dec 66) shakes hands with 13th Air Force Commander, LGEN William G. Moore Jr., after arriving on bus, in background, and prior to his flight to the United States. COL John W. Ord, Commander, Clark Hospital and COL Raymond G. Lawry, Deputy Site Commander, Joint Homecoming Reception Center are in the background. MAJ Flesher was released in Hanoi by North Vietnam on 18 Feb 73

A view of the welcome home sign prepared to greet recently released from a prisoner of war home from Vietnam

The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion color guard lower

Topics

prisoner war clark clark air base route travis air force base clark air base philippines air force pow prisoners of war philippines vietnam war prisoners exchange commission vietcong hanoi high resolution us air force usaf air force base military parades us national archives vietnam pow