Crash of a Grumman S-2F Tracker at U-Tapao NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
447
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
356
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a demonstration flight, taking part to an airshow at U-Tapao NAS and carrying a crew of six. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to return to the NAS for an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed on approach. Two crew members were seriously injured while four others were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200MAR in Bangkok

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
10665
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - Bangkok
MSN:
10665
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Bangkok-Don Mueang Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to heavy rain falls. Instead of landing on the main runway, the captain attempted to land on a small runway located near the military facilities. Misaligned, the aircraft landed in the adjacent grassy area. Upon touchdown, it lost its undercarriage, slid for few dozen meters, lost its both wings and tail and came to rest with one engine on fire. All eight occupants escaped injured.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47A at U-Tapao NAS

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
084
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon - U-Tapao
MSN:
13900/25345
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at U-Tapao NAS while completing a flight from Saigon. The aircraft was destroyed but there were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-65-BO Stratofortress in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0116
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17232
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While engaged in a bombing mission over North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The captain decided to evacuate the target area and to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport for an emergency landing. After touchdown completed in difficult conditions, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overran and came to rest. While all six crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress into the Gulf of Tonkin

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0056
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464008
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over Vinh in North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The captain decided to evacuate the target area but with two engines out of service, electric and hydraulic systems out, he ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The airplane crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin and all six crew members, wounded, were evacuated by the crew of a USAF HH-53 helicopter and USMC CH-46 helicopter.
Crew:
Lt Col Gerald Wickline, pilot,
Cpt William "Bill" F. Milcarek, copilot,
Cpt Myles McTernan, navigator,
Maj Roger A. Klingbeil, radio navigator,
Cpt William E. Fergason, EWO,
T/Sgt Carlos S. Killgore, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress near U-Tapao NAS

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0599
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17282
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from U-Tapao NAS. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The crew decided to leave the target area and to return to U-Tapao NAS for an emergency landing. As the four engines on the left side were out of service, the crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in an isolated area. All six crew were found alive.
Crew:
Cpt John Mize, pilot,
Cpt Terrence Gruters, copilot,
Lt William Robinson, navigator,
Cpt Dennis Anderson, EWO,
Cpt William North, radio navigator,
T/Sgt Peter E. Whalen, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress in Hanoi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1972 at 2148 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0674
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464045
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from U-Tapao NAS. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a North Vietnam MiG-21 fighter and crashed in the district of Giáp Nhị in Hanoi. Two crew members were killed four others were rescued and taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Robert John Morris Jr., pilot, †
1st Lt Robert Markham Hudson, copilot,
1st Lt Duane Paul Vavroch, navigator,
Col Michael Harold La Beau, radio navigator,
Cpt Nutter Jerome Wimbrow III, EWO, †
M/Sgt James Raymond Cook, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-70-BO Stratofortress at U-Tapao NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0584
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17267
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from U-Tapao NAS. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The crew decided to leave the target area and to return to U-Tapao NAS for an emergency landing. As the air gunner was wounded, the captain refused to bail out. On approach, as four engines were out of service on the same side, he was forced to initiate a go-around when control was lost. The airplane crashed near the airbase and was destroyed. Four crew members were killed while two others survived.
Crew:
Cpt James Mack Turner, pilot, †
1st Lt Robert Joseph Hymel,
Maj Lawrence Jay Marshall, navigator, †
Lt Col Donald Arrington Joyner, radio navigator, †
Cpt Roy Tom Tabler, EWO, †
T/Sgt Spencer L. Grippin, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-1-BW Stratofortress in Bạch Mai

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0050
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464002
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand 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 plane went out of control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi. All six crew members were taken PoW.
Crew:
Lt Col John Harr Yuill, pilot,
Cpt David Ian Drummond, copilot,
1st Lt William Thomas Mayall, navigator,
Lt Col William Walter Conlee, EWO,
Lt Col Louis Henry Bernasconi, radio navigator,
M/Sgt Gary Lee Morgan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-15-BW Stratofortress in Bạch Mai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0061
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464013
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand 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 plane went out of control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi. Three crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Peter James Giroux, pilot,
Cpt Thomas Waring Bennett, copilot, †
1st Lt Joseph Bernard Copack Jr., navigator, †
Cpt Peter Paul Camerota, EWO,
Lt Col Gerald William Alley, †
M/Sgt Louis Edward LeBlanc Jr., air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.