There was a story of the last flight out of Vietnam during the end of the war with a 727 taking off with 300 passengers incl some stowaways.
It struggled into the air but did make it. Apparently AFAIK it was the Boeing president or some high-ranking Boeing person at the controls.

I recall seeing a pic of the 727 flying with the main gear down and a body hanging from the well.

TNZ

That plane was shot at and even suffered a grenade attack.
Due to the folks in the wheels they only flew at a low level.

When they got to where they were going… it was not thought possible that the plane could fly!