Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in the A Shau Valley: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1972 at 2355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3070
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Spectre 11
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Air Base in Thailand on a night armed reconnaissance mission to attack elite NVA forces known to be infiltrating from Laos into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. While making a second low pass over the target area, the airplane's n°3 engine was hit by a Strela SA-7 missile. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in the A Shau Valley. 12 crew members were killed while three others were rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Paul Faris Gilbert, †
Cpt Robert Allan Wilson, †
Cpt Gordon Bocher,
Maj Gerald Francis Ayres, †
Maj Robert Herman Harrison, †
Cpt Mark Giles Danielson, †
2nd Lt Robert Reid,
M/Sgt Jacob Edward Mercer, †
T/Sgt Richard Milton Cole, †
S/Sgt Donald Herman Klinke, †
S/Sgt Larry Jerome Newman, †
S/Sgt Richard E. Nyhof, †
S/Sgt Leon Andrew Hunt, †
S/Sgt Stanley Lawrence Lehrke, †
S/Sgt William P. Patterson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130D Hercules in Dye 3: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0495
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thule - Dye 3
MSN:
3202
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
6258
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission from Thule Airbase to Dye 3 Airstrip located about 320 km east of Sondreströmfjord, Greenland. On final approach, the airplane lost height and struck the ground. On impact, the landing gear, skis, outboard fuel tanks, and the number one engine were torn off as well as 12 feet from the left wing tip and six feet of the right wing tip. The airplane came to rest in flames in the snow. Seven occupants were slightly injured while the eighth one, a Danish citizen, was killed when a propeller blade detached and penetrated the fuselage.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the approach speed was too low, causing the airplane to stall during the last segment.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules off Magong AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1805
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taipei - Taipei
MSN:
3759
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Taipei-Songshan on a maritime patrol flight over the China Sea. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Magong AFB located in the south part of the Penghu Islands (Pescadores Islands). The aircraft sank and was lost and all six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown but it was reported that the crew apparently encountered technical issues with the undercarriage.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Kon Tum: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7798
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3864
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kon Tum, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by a 122 mm rocket and crashed in flames in a field. A crew member survived while four others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1797
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3748
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a resupply mission over the region of An Lộc. While flying at an altitude of 500 feet, on its way back to Saigon, the airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed in flames in a prairie. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald Lee Unger,
Cpt Alexander Melver,
1st Lt Thomas Carl Widerquist,
S/Sgt Lester Bracey,
S/Sgt Joseph Clifford Hopper,
S/Sgt Freddie Leon Slater.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3992
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhat on a supply dropping mission in the region of An Lộc. While approaching the target zone at an altitude of 500 feet and at a speed of 170 knots, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. It went out of control and crashed 1,5 km southwest of An Lộc. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harry Arlo Amesbury,
1st Lt Kurt Frederick Weisman,
1st Lt Richard Lee Russell,
T/Sgt Donald Russell Hoskins,
S/Sgt Calvin Coolidge Cooke,
S/Sgt Richard Edward Dunn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Lai Khê

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7775
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3841
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saigon on a supply dropping mission to An Loc. While flying at low height and high speed, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew elected to return to Saigon when few minutes later, the right wing caught fire. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in a swampy area. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing after being shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130E Hercules near Salavan

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
69-6571
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4345
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in a military mission on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, the aircraft was hit by ground fire while flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet. The captain elected to return to his base when the right wing caught fire. All 15 occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Hercules near Xepon: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0044
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3071
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a military operation along the Ho Chi Minh Trail when it was hit by an SA-2 surface to air missile. Out of control, it crashed 16 km southeast of Xepon. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules at Jacksonville AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1813
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3775
YOM:
1963
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A minute after takeoff from Jacksonville AFB, the Hercules collided with a USAF Jet trainer Cessna T-37 Tweet carrying two pilots. The crew was inbound to Jacksonville AFB on a flight from Big Spring-Webb Airbase. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located about 3 miles from the airfield. While both occupants on board the T-37 ejected and survived, all five crew members on board the Hercules were killed.