Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader into China Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
136784
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
37
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after taking off from USS Independence (CVA-62), the Trader stalled and crashed into the sea. A crew member was killed while nine others were rescued. The aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross into the South China Sea

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
51-058
Flight Phase:
MSN:
G-136
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the South China Sea, about 200 km off the Vietnam coast. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross in South china Sea

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
51-5287
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
G-168
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a SAR mission following the collision of two USAF B-52's. Enroute, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the South China Sea, about 200 km off the Vietnam coast. While the airplane was lost, all five crew members were rescued by the crew of a Norwegian ship.

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-70-BW Stratofortress into the South China Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0047
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
17441
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising over the South China Sea in formation with a second USAF B-52, the aircraft was completing a holding circuit awaiting a KC-135 for refueling. Doing so, both aircraft collided and crashed into the South China Sea about 400 km off the Vietnam coast. Five crew members on board 57-0179 were killed while a six occupants was rescued. On board 57-0047, three crew members were killed while three others were evacuated.
Those killed were:
1st Lt James A. Marshall,
Maj James M. Gehrig Jr.,
Cpt Tyrrell G. Lowry,
Cpt Robert L. Armond,
M/Sgt Harold J. Roberts Jr.,
Cpt Frank P. Watson,
Cpt Joe Carrol Robertson,
T/Sgt William Edward Neville.

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-70-BW Stratofortress into the South China Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0179
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464168
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising over the South China Sea in formation with a second USAF B-52, the aircraft was completing a holding circuit awaiting a KC-135 for refueling. Doing so, both aircraft collided and crashed into the South China Sea about 400 km off the Vietnam coast. Five crew members on board 57-0179 were killed while a six occupants was rescued. On board 57-0047, three crew members were killed while three others were evacuated.
Those killed were:
1st Lt James A. Marshall,
Maj James M. Gehrig Jr.,
Cpt Tyrrell G. Lowry,
Cpt Robert L. Armond,
M/Sgt Harold J. Roberts Jr.,
Cpt Frank P. Watson,
Cpt Joe Carrol Robertson,
T/Sgt William Edward Neville.

Crash of a Lockheed SP-2E Neptune into the South China Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1964 at 0243 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
131513
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Iwakuni - Iwakuni
MSN:
426-5394
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Iwakuni for a maritime patrol flight over the South China Sea. While cruising by night, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea about 120 km east of the Vietnam coast. Eight crew members were rescued while five others were killed.

Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton MR.1 into the South China Sea: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP254
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Labuan - Labuan
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Labuan Airport in the day on a maritime patrol flight over the South China Sea, carrying a crew of ten and one police officer. While cruising at low height over the sea, the airplane hit the water surface and crashed. Few hours later, some debris of the airplane and personal effects from the crew were spotted floating on water, about 450 km north of Labuan. All 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was caused by a wrong optical perception of the water surface on part of the flying crew as the water had a crystalline appearance. Wrong perception of the situation and poor judgement of the distance between the airplane and the water surface. It was reported that the captain did not conduct any mission at low height since a long time. Also, the lack of experience of the copilot on this type of aircraft was also reported as he was just appointed on Shackleton from Short Sunderland.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S2 Mariner into the China Sea: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
84760
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sangley Point - Sangley Point
MSN:
84760
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, while completing a maritime patrol flight over the South China Sea, the crew informed ground that the left engine caught fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed into the sea about 150 km west of Laoag, Philippines. Five crew members were rescued by the crew of a USCG Catalina while ten other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Left engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner into the South China Sea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
84769
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
84769
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The seaplane was returning to its base following a maritime patrol flight off the Korean coast. While overflying the South China Sea, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances about 250 km east of Hong Kong. The aircraft sank and was lost and all 12 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY Catalina I into the South China Sea

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AH540
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Singapore - Singapore
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed Singapore-Seletar Airport on a maritime patrol flight. About 300 km off Singapore, it was attacked and shot down by a Japanese fighter and crash landed into the sea, bursting into flames. All nine crew members were rescued the following morning and returned to Seletar. The airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/Lt R. A. Atkinson,
P/O S. E. Scales,
P/O D. B. Babineau,
Sgt T. D. Morris,
Sgt P. Smith,
Cpl J. A. D. Wyant,
LAC D. Ballard,
Sgt R. Borchers,
P/O Heath.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.