(Stephanie James/Stars and Stripes)

Frankfurt, Germany, Jan. 21, 1981: Hostages emerge to cheers as they step out of one of the two C-9 planes that ferried them from Tehran, Iran, to Rhein Main Air Base. The 52 Americans had been held captive in Iran since Nov. 4, 1979, when some 300 militant Iranians seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Thousands of well-wishers came to the air base to welcome the returnees home.

Read Stars and Stripes’ coverage of the Iran hostages’ homecoming here.

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