<article><hdr>Airborne shot of C-123 Provider</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>Experience gained from developing the C-82 and C-119 lead Fairchild to design the C-123 Provider which had short take off and landing characteristics, combined with a rear fuselage which was swept upwards for ease of loading. The majority of Providers were assigned to Tactical Air Command, with a few stationed in Europe. The C-123 saw sterling service in Vietnam performing local airlift to deliver all manner of cargoes. The CIA owned Air America employed C-123s for many years for operations in Laos and Cambodia.</hi>
