Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Phù Cát

Date & Time: May 7, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4176
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
117
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 Phù Cát Airfield, while in initial climb, the crew reported an engine failure when the airplane stalled and crashed few dozen yards from the runway end. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968
Operator:
Registration:
43-16159
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phu Cat - Pleiku
MSN:
20625
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phu Cat when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Leslie Earl Harris, †
Maj Teddy James Tomchesson, †
Lt Barry Lynn Brown, †
Cpt Edward Chester Krawczyk, †
S/Sgt James Edgar Bowman, †
Sgt Douglas Joseph Cradeur, †
Sgt Roy Leo Lede. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968
Operator:
Registration:
44-76207
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phù Cát - Phù Cát
MSN:
15791/32539
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phù Cát when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. Six crew members survived while three others were killed. Those killed were Cpt Donald Lewis Merry, Maj Richard William +1. Wackerfuss.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Shau Valley: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0298
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3602
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Several C-130 Hercules transport planes were used to fly supply runs to an airstrip at A Loui. The aircraft approached under low clouds, airdropping the supplies from the rear ramp. Several aircraft were hit by enemy ground fire. The 21st supply aircraft was hit by .50 calibre and 37 mm ground fire. A fire erupted in the cargo hold and the crew attempted to jettison the burning load while the pilot attempted a forced landing on the airstrip. The airplane struck trees, crashed and burst into flames. All eight occupants were killed, among them two photographs.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules at Bunard Camp

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0480
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kadena - Bunard Camp
MSN:
3088
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Kadena to Bunard Camp located 80 km north of Biên Hòa. On short final, the aircraft encountered turbulences caused by the rotor of a USAF helicopter and control was lost. The airplane landed hard and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Heavy landing caused by rotor turbulences.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Khe Sanh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-0967
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mactan - Khe Sanh
MSN:
3654
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After landing at Khe Sanh Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the left then collided with several vehicles (trucks) and came to rest in flames. All eight occupants were injured and the passenger died from his injuries few days later.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the failure of the pitch control system on engines number three and four.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-90-LO Orion off Đảo Phú Quốc Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
153445
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
185-5241
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While cruising over the Gulf of Thailand on a maritime patrol flight at the border between Thailand and South Vietnam, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and the right wing caught fire. The crew informed ground about his situation and elected to divert to the nearest airport when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Đảo Phú Quốc Island. All 12 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt(jg) Frank E. Hand,
Lt(jg) Stuart L. McLellan,
Lt(jg) Brian J. Mathison,
Lt(jg) Michael J. Purcell,
AME2 Donald W. Burnside,
ATI Kenneth L. Crist,
A02 William S. Cutting,
AXC Donald E. Kulacz,
AX3 Delmar L. Lawrence,
AE1 Donald F. Wood,
ADJ2 Edward O. Wynder,
AX1 Alvin G. Yoximer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Đức Phổ: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0653
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20102
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
According to the testimony of John R. Young, there was a sudden loss of power. The aircraft came down fast and hard. The captain tried to belly land when the plane broke up below cockpit and became a giant plow. Two occupants (pilot and taskmaster) were fatally injured and other occupants were injured, some seriously. There were few troops and locals on board at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Gia Nghĩa

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1968
Operator:
Registration:
607
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13537
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Gia Nghĩa Airstrip, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Grumman S-2E Tracker off Hòn Mê Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
149274
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
118
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed USS Yorktown on a maritime patrol flight off the North Vietnam coast. While cruising by night, the crew reported problems with the radar. Shortly later, the airplane crashed into the sea some 40 km off Hòn Mê Island, North Vietnam. Three days later, part of the starboard wing was found but no trace of the four crew members.
Crew:
Cdr Donald Richard Hubbs,
Lt(jg) Lee David Benson,
AX2 Randall John Nightingale,
ADR Thomas David Barber.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.