originally built as a standard c-141a, the aircraft was converted to a stretched c-141b in october 1981, along with most of the c-141 fleet. subsequent avionics and structural upgrades saw the aircraft converted to the c-141c standard in 1999. later in her career she was transferred to the 445th airlift wing at wright patterson air force base (wpafb) area a in ohio. in 2002 the aircraft's history was discovered by her crew chief while she was undergoing maintenance, and shortly thereafter she was repainted she in the white-over-grey livery she wore in 1973 during her evacuation mission to hanoi. signatures of the freed prisoners were preserved on the panel over the years and became the centerpiece of what was essentially a "flying museum". plaques, documents and photographs of the homecoming are part of the on-board exhibit researched and created by the 445th airlift wing. etchings of the names of those who are missing in action were taken from engravings on the vietnam veterans memorial in washington and are mounted on the plane. framed photographs, plaques, and other memorabilia adorn the interior. following her restoration the aircraft was first exhibited to the public at the 2003 dayton air show. she appeared at numerous other venues until her retirement in may 2006.