54-0612/IE Fairchild C-123K Provider

Flown to the museum in 1981 after being retired from USAF service. In 1998, the plane was restored and painted in the markings it wore while assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing, Eglin AFB, FL. Its nose art, “The Chief”, is in honor of its volunteer Crew Chief, retired Chief Master Sergeant Jim Meek. Jim was the flight chief for one of the first C-123J’s equipped with ski’s to land in Greenland in 1958. He has given over 10,000 volunteer hours to the museum and has cared for the C-123 since 1981