Crash of a Boeing 307 Stratoliner B-1 near Hanoi: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1965 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-BELV
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vientiane – Hanoi
MSN:
1996
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Vientiane-Wattay Airport at 1505LT bound for Hanoi. About 15 minutes later, the crew contacted ATC and gave his ETA at Hanoi for 1644LT. While descending to Hanoi-Gia Lam Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated area. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the 13 occupants was found. It is believed the airplane may have been shot down by soldiers based in a zone under North-Vietnam control. All four crew members were French citizens while the nine passengers were employees of the ICSC.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Bao Trái: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1965 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9574Z
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
AF-45
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4348
Captain / Total hours on type:
1764.00
Circumstances:
En route, the airplane went into an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located near Bao Trái. All three occupants were killed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules off Quy Nhơn: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0038
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon - Quy Nhơn
MSN:
3065
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The approach to Quy Nhơn was completed under VFR mode in heavy rain falls when the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea few km short of runway. Three crew members were seriously injured while two others were killed as well as both passengers. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to rain falls.
Those killed were:
Crew:
Cpt Fred Rost Tice,
S/Sgt Walter Otho Tramel.
Passengers:
Cpt David Eugene Benson,
Cpt Thomas James Tolliver.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Quảng Ngãi: 38 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
XV-NIC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quảng Ngãi – Saigon
MSN:
20301
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Quảng Ngãi Airport, while climbing, the airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed 11 km northeast of the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while 38 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas HC-47A in Biên Hòa

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
42-92916
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12770
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Caught fire for unknown reason while taxiing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
146047
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
77
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered technical issues with the right engine and decided to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport. On final, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a cemetery. All seven occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
An unclear technical issue occurred on the right engine and the crew was unable to feather the propeller.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Saigon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9933Z
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
AF-490
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed inverted in a huge explosion. All three occupants were killed. It is believed the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B Provider in Saigon: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0641
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nha Trang – Saigon
MSN:
20090
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On final approach to Saigon Airport, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed few km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed. The C-123 was used on a MACV-SOG mission. The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The aircraft had no standard markings on it, but were painted with a unique camo pattern of low-reflectivity black, green and brown paint. The aircraft was rigged with pylons on it. All aircraft were sanitized as well as the nationality and individuality of those on board.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-18-FA Provider near Pleiku: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-4379
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nha Trang - Pleiku
MSN:
20263
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply drop mission between Nha Trang and Pleiku. While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (310 ACS):
Maj Samuel Joseph Ganci,
Cpt Alvin James Dimond,
Cpt Terrence Richard Titus,
S/Sgt Paul Glen Dawson,
S/Sgt Merle Edward Estes,
S/Sgt Norman Columbus Williams,
A1C James Anthony Coy.

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou in Tra My

Date & Time: May 16, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4164
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
102
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Tra My Airstrip. There were no casualties.