Crash of a Boeing B-52G-80-BW Stratofortress near Nakhon Phanom

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Andersen - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
464186
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Brass 02
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Brass 02 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The crew was able to leave the target area and to fly to Thailand but eventually, all six crew members were forced to abandon the aircraft that crashed about 16 km southwest of Nakhon Phanom. The aircraft was destroyed while all six crew members survived.
Crew:
Cpt John Ettinger, pilot,
Cpt Lawrence A. Casazza, pilot,
Maj Charles E. Archie, copilot,
1st Lt Robert A. Clement, radio navigator,
Cpt Silverio A. Barroqueiro, navigator,
T/Sgt George H. Schryer, EWO.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q in Nakhon Phanom: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1972 at 1740 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-49771
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
15587/27032
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
Baron 56
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Nakhon Phanom Airport following a supply mission, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area near the airport. Two occupants were killed while eight others were rescued.
Those killed were:
Cpt Robert Alan Kohn,
M/Sgt John W. Ryon.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control caused by the failure of the rudder control system.

Crash of a Douglas A-26A Invader in Nakhon Phanom: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-17673
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
27414
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Nakhon Phanom Airport following an interdiction mission, the crew was trying to establish whether the gear was down or not when both engines failed. The airplane stalled and crashed, killing both pilots.
Crew:
Cpt Neal E. Monette,
Maj John V. Callanan.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Ban Hai: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1968 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0600
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
20049
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nakhon Phanom on a flare dropping mission over Laos. While cruising by night, the airplane collided with a USAF artin B-57E Canberra registered 55-4284. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a dense jungle area. Both pilots on board the Canberra were killed as well a six crew members of the Provider. The captain was able to bail out and survived.
Crew:
Lt T. M. Turner,
1st Lt Joseph Peter Fanning, †
1st Lt John Scott Albright, †
1st Lt Douglas Vincent Dailey, †
1st Lt Morgan Jefferson Donahue, †
S/Sgt Samuel Franklin Walker, †
T/Sgt Frederick Lee Clarke. †

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123K Provider in Nakhon Phanom

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0589
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
20038
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
14847
Circumstances:
The airplane was operating over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos when its port engine was damaged by AAA near Ban Namchalo. The pilot aborted the mission and carefully made his way back to Nakhon Phanom where he made an emergency landing. All five crew members were uninjured but the aircraft was so badly damaged that it had to be scrapped.
Source: Chris Hobson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed OP-2E Neptune near Ban Karai Pass: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
131484
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
426-5365
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nakhon Phanom Airport on a supply mission consisting of sensors dropping. While flying at low height, the airplane was struck by enemy fire. Seven occupants bailed out before the aircraft crashed in flames in a dense wooded area. Both pilots were killed while seven other occupants were evacuated five hours later.
Those killed were:
Cdr Paul Lloyd Milius,
P02 John Francis Hartzheim.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed OP-2E Neptune near Muang Phine: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
131486
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
426-5367
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nakhon Phanom Airport and was supposed to deliver sensors near Ban Namm, some 48 km west of the DMZ. While cruising at low height, the airplane was hit by small arms fire and the crew reported the explosion of the right engine. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the jungle. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cdr Glenn Miller Hayden,
Lt Curtis Frank Thurman,
Lt(jg) James Stephen Kravitz,
Ens James Charles Wonn,
ATN1 Paul Nicholas Donato,
A02 Clayborn Willis Ashby,
ADJ2 Chester Leroy Coons,
AN Frank Arthur Dawson,
AN James Edward Martin.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47 in Nakhon Phanom

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
L2-20/00
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15234/26679
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked at Nakhon Phanom Airport, the aircraft was stolen by an intoxicated US soldier who wanted to takeoff. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances and was destroyed by a post crash fire. The only occupant was rescued.
Probable cause:
Stolen by an intoxicated US soldier.

Crash of a Douglas RC-47D near Hòa Bình: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
43-48388
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
14204/25649
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Dogpatch 2
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was set off for a surveillance mission around the Pathet Lao stronghold of Sam Neua. During the mission the aircraft flew close to (and may even have crossed) the border into North Vietnam. MiGs had occasionally been seen operating close to the Laotian border but it was thought that they posed little threat to aircraft operating in the Sam Neua area. However, a MiG-17 made a high speed dash to the border and shot down the RC-47D before making off deep into North Vietnam. All eight crew members were killed:
Crew:
Cpt Bernard Conklin,
Cpt Robert Eugene Hoskinson,
1st Lt Vincent Augustus Chiarello,
1st Lt Robert Joseph Di Tommaso,
Maj Galileo Fred Bossio,
T/Sgt John Micheo Mamiya,
T/Sgt Herbert Eugene Smith,
S/Sgt James Shreve Hall.
Source: Chris Hobson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a North Vietnam Air Force MiG-17.

Crash of a Douglas A-26A Invader in Nakhon Phanom: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-17643
Survivors:
No
MSN:
28671
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Nakhon Phanom Airport following a strike over Laos. On final approach, both engines failed simultaneously. The airplane stalled and crashed few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Maj George G. Duke,
Cpt Miles T. Tanimoto.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines due to fuel starvation or fuel miscalculation on part of the crew following a long patrol mission.