C-123K medium assault transports modified to spray as UC-123K, dispersed Agent Orange throughout South Vietnam from although in later years spraying was gradually reduced. 1971 –aircraft returned to the US; spray tanks were removed, the airplanes then flown to their new units without any decontamination.
Wearing standard flight suits, C-123 fleet was then flown by Air National Guard and USAF Reserve squadrons (Massachusetts, Ohio, & Pennsylvania) as the Vietnam War ended. 1979 tests identified herbicide contamination. Crews assured all aircraft safe. 1982 – C-123s retired to desert “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
1994 AF toxicologists reported C-123 “heavily contaminated” with dioxin. Full HAZMAT then ordered for all personnel in or near the toxic airplanes.
2001 – all C-123s were gathered into a special, high security quarantine area, reacting to base employee TCDD IG complaints.
June 2010 – on recommendation of the Office of Secretary of Defense Senior Consultant to several civilian and military officials, with concerns expressed that veterans already exposed might seek VA medical care, all C-123s destroyed by USAF as hazardous waste with special measures taken to insure the "below-the-radar" operation.
2011-2014: "VA will permit no C-123 Agent Orange exposure disability claims"
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