Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Pleiku: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EM-2
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Huế – Pleiku – Buôn Ma Thuột – Saigon
MSN:
30460
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
On approach to Pleiku Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The awreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 6 China Airlines employees (three crew members and three mechanics), 11 US soldiers, 14 South-Vietnam soldiers and one South-Vietnam civilian.

Crash of a Beechcraft JU-21A Letf Jab near Huế: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1971 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
67-18065
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Huế - Huế
MSN:
LM-66
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The electronic warfare airplane was engaged in a radio research mission out from Huế-Phu Bai Airport. En route, it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Michael W. Marker, pilot,
Wo1 Harold L. Algaard, copilot.
Passengers:
Sp5 Rodney D. Osborne,
Sp5 Richard J. Hentz,
Sp6 John T. Strawn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Lockheed KC-130F Hercules off Huê-Phú Bài: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1969 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
149814
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3723
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
At 12:05 on 18 May 1969 the Marine Corps KC-130F tanker departed Da Nang Air Base on a routine operational tanker mission. The aircraft continued to the Hue Phu Bai Area for the in-flight refueling mission. The tanker had departed its assigned track by and was proceeding toward the ocean before turning southeast to Da Nang. The KC-130F proceeded southbound for the Hue Phu Bai airfield area while refueling two US Marine Corps McDonnell F-4B Phantom fighter aircraft (152270 and 151450). All three aircraft were descending in a "tobogganing" maneuver while heading southbound in the vicinity of the South Vietnam Coastline. At the same time a separate USMC F-4B Phantom (151001) was heading in a generally westbound direction toward the Hue Phu Bai military area. The two aircraft approached each other nearly head on with a closing rate of approximately 700 knots true airspeed. The initial impact by the F-4B was in the vicinity of the number four engine and the starboard refueling pod on the KC-130F. The radome on the F-4B cleared the propeller on the number four engine as the cockpit initially impacted with it. The single F-4B crashed and the pilot and RIO died instantly. The KC-130F crashed into the sea. One of the refueling F-4B's was severely damaged from the initial crash debris. Phantom 151450 plugged into the starboard drogue, was sprayed with fuel and apparently ingested an undetermined amount of debris into both engines. The F-4B aircraft flipped uncontrollably to an inverted position while the drogue and a portion of the hose remained attached to the aircraft. Its engines could not sustain power and the fighter crashed at sea. Both crew members successfully ejected and were recovered. The second refueling F-4B fighter, 152270 was plugged into the port refueling drogue and sustained limited damage in the form of two small holes in the port aileron and a 1/2 inch hole in the starboard wingtip. The pilot observed the spinning tanker, and when it was apparent he could render no further assistance returned to Chu Lai Air Base without further incident.
Crew:
Maj Jimmie Dwayne Sells,
Maj John Clarence Williamson,
MGSgt Carroll Franklin Hersey,
M/Sgt Edmond Chester Polenski,
Sgt Robert Allen Bonebright,
Cpl James Allen Cox.
Source: The Marine Air Transporter

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q near Saravane: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
45-1133
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pleiku - Huế
MSN:
17136/34403
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was on a radio direction finding mission from Pleiku to Huế when the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed about 40 km southeast of Saravane. The wreckage was found in October 1969 and all 10 crew members have been killed.
Crew:
Maj Homer Morgan Lynn,
Cpt Walter Francis Burke,
Maj Harry Tilman Niggle,
Maj Robert Eugene Olson,
M/Sgt Wilton Neil Hatton,
S/Sgt James Vernon Dorsey,
S/Sgt Rodney Herschel Gott,
S/Sgt Hugh Leslie Sherburn,
T/Sgt Louis John Clever,
Sgt Clarence Leon McNeill.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Huế: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0549
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3157
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching Huế-Phú Bài Airport by night and rainy weather. For unknown reason, the aircraft crashed on landing and came to rest in flames. While all five crew members were injured, all six passengers were killed.