Campaignbox Vietnam War Operation Homecoming was a series of diplomatic negotiations that in January 1973 made possible the return of 591 American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141A transports 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" and now in a museum. From February 12 to April 4, there were 54 C-141 missions flying out of Hanoi, bringing the former POWs home. [1]

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Statistics

;591 POWs released to U.S. authorities

• 13 captured in Laos and released in North Vietnam
• 122 Captured in South Vietnam
• 28 released in the South
• 94 released in the North
• 3 released in China

;Released from enemy control prior to Operation Homecoming

• 76 early releases
• 5 released by Laos
• 32 released by Cambodia
• 13 released by North Vietnam
• 1 released by China
• 25 released by South Vietnam

;Escaped from enemy control prior to Operation Homecoming

• 32 early releases
• 30 captured in South Vietnam
• 2 captured in Laos

;Escaped from enemy control after Operation Homecoming

• 2 captured in South Vietnam and escaped to Saigon

Each plane brought back 40 POWs. During the early part of Operation Homecoming, groups of POWs released were selected on the basis of longest length of time in prison. The first group had spent 6-8 years as prisoners of war. After Operation Homecoming, the U.S. still listed about 1,350 Americans as prisoners of war or missing in action and sought the return of roughly 1,200 Americans reported killed in action and body not recovered. ^[2] These missing personnel would become the subject of the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue.

The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines each had liaison officers dedicated to prepare for the return of American POW's well in advance of their actual return. These liaison officers worked behind the scenes traveling around the United States to make sure that these returning heroes received the care they deserved. They also were responsible for debriefing POW's to discern relevant intelligence about MIA's and to discern the existence of war crimes committed against them ^{[3] [4]}.

Notes