Khâm Đức

Shortly after takeoff from Khâm Đức Airfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft was shot down by North-Vietnamese soldiers who were conducting an assault of the airbase. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion some 4 km east of the airfield. All 155 occupants, South-Vietnamese soldiers with their wife and children, were killed. Up to date, this was the worst crash by the USAF and the worst in Vietnam.
Crew:
Maj Bernard Ludwig Bucher,
1st Lt Stephan Craig Moreland,
S/Sgt Frank Monroe Hepler,
A1C George Wendell Long,
Maj John Lee McElroy,
Cpt Warren Robert Orr (was among the passenger).

On approach to Khâm Đức Airfield, the aircraft was hit by small artillery and hydraulic systems failed. After touch down, the aircraft was uncontrollable and veered off runway before hitting a parked helicopter. All five crewmen were unhurt but the aircraft was later intentionally destroyed. Crew, from the 21st squadron, was flying to Khâm Đức to evacuate troops on an emergency evacuation process of the camp.
Crew:
Captain Delmore, pilot,
Joe Donahue, copilot.
Thanks to Bill Schneider from the Khâm Đức Group, who added the following comment: the aircraft was guided off the runway on purpose by superior flying skills. It did not catch on fire at that time but was destroyed for good by USAF fighters that destroyed all remaining assets on the ground, including the SF Camp, engineer equipment and anything that could be of any value to the North Vietnam Army. Delmore's crew was picked up just a few minutes later by a USMC CH-46 helicopter.