Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Bảo Lộc: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1785
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3730
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on airlift flight from Tuy Hoa when it was damaged by fire about a mile south of Tan Phat airfield near the city of Bảo Lộc, 85 miles southwest of Cam Ranh Bay. The pilot tried to land the aircraft but it crashed before he could set it down. However, one source claims that the aircraft was not lost in enemy action but crashed into a hill in bad weather.
Crew:
Cpt David Horace Risher,
Cpt Leonard Selaniko,
Maj Eugene Winfield Hartman,
T/Sgt Ralph James Lund,
Sgt Jesus Ochoa.
Source: Chris Hobson.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou near An Lộc: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4177
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
118
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on an airlift flight near the Cambodian border, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire on its starboard wing. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Robert George Bull,
1st Lt Ralph William Manners,
A1C David Frederick Sleeper.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Pleiku: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-9761
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
226
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While engaged in a dropping mission, the airplane was flying at low height and reduced speed when it stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Those killed were:
Cpt Kenneth James Hoffman,
A1C Gary Raymond McKendrick.
Probable cause:
Stall caused by too low speed at too low altitude during a dropping mission.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0595
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20044
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on an airbase located somewhere in South Vietnam, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked helicopter. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Tây Ninh

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1968 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1861
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Katum - Tuy Hòa
MSN:
3825
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Katum Airfield, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The pilot decided to divert to Tây Ninh Airfield for an emergency landing when the engine number one caught fire. It was shot down and its propeller was feathered. Upon landing, the left wing was on fire and the left main gear still retracted. The airplane came to rest and was later destroyed by fire while all five crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Shut down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Đắk Tô

Date & Time: May 29, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4189
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay – Đắk Tô
MSN:
132
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Đắk Tô Airfield, the airplane was hit by enemy fire, stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. All 30 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123K Provider off Xóm Rach Tàu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0588
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
20037
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an aerial attack of a Viêt Cong camp located at Xóm Rach Tàu, at the extreme south coast of South Vietnam. While cruising at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The left engine and the left wing caught fire and the crew elected to evacuate the area when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Emmet Rucker,
Maj James L. Shanks,
Sgt Herbert E. Schmidt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sông Bé

Date & Time: May 15, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7875
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3945
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Sông Bé Airfield, one of the engine failed for unknown reason. The airplane stalled and crashed in flames short of runway. All seven crew members escaped while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Khâm Đức: 155 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1968 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0297
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khâm Đức - Saigon
MSN:
3600
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
150
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
155
Circumstances:
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).
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Khâm Đức

Date & Time: May 12, 1968 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0548
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3156
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Hydraulic failure on approach caused by artillery bullets.