Bombing

The crew departed Andersen AFB, Guam, on a bombing mission over the A Shau Valley. While overflying the region of Vinh, the electrical system failed, causing some of the hydraulic systems to fail as well. The captain decided to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport for an emergency landing. As the crew was unable to deploy the flaps, the captain attempted a go-around. Few minutes later, he completed a flapless landing on runway 17L. The B-52 touched down 1,000 feet past the runway threshold. After a course of 6,000 feet, it overran at a speed of 100 knots, struck a drainage ditch and came to rest in a landmine and exploded. The gunner was rescued while all five other crew members were killed in the crash.
Crew:
Maj Gene Wesley Brown, †
Cpt James Thomas Davis, †
Cpt Anthony Kent Johnson, †
Cpt William Henry Pritchard, †
Cpt Donald J. Reynolds, †
Albert Whatley.

A Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress registered 56-0595 and carrying a crew of six and a Boeing B-52D-80-BO Stratofortress registered 56-0627 carrying a crew of seven departed Andersen AFB, Guam, on a bombing mission over the A Shau Valley. While approaching the coast of South Vietnam, both aircraft collided and crashed into the mouth of the Mekong River, about 100 km south of Saigon. Three crew members on board the first aircraft were found alive as well as three others on board the second aircraft. It is believed the collision occurred when one of the crew wanted to modify his position in the formation.

Crew (56-0595):
Cpt George Westbrook, pilot,
Cpt Harold Dean Thompson, copilot,
Cpt Charles Herman Blankenship, navigator, †
1st Lt George Emerson Jones, radio navigator, †
Cpt Toki Endo, EWO,
M/Sgt Olen Burke McLaughlin, air gunner. †

Crew (56-0627):
Maj John Suther, pilot,
Cpt William Creedon, copilot,
Lt Rod Gable, navigator,
Maj Gen William Joseph Crumm, air cdr, †
Maj Paul Andrew Avolese, radio navigator, †
Cpt David Fritz Bittenbender, EWO, †
Sgt Lynn Chase, air gunner.

A Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress registered 56-0595 and carrying a crew of six and a Boeing B-52D-80-BO Stratofortress registered 56-0627 carrying a crew of seven departed Andersen AFB, Guam, on a bombing mission over the A Shau Valley. While approaching the coast of South Vietnam, both aircraft collided and crashed into the mouth of the Mekong River, about 100 km south of Saigon. Three crew members on board the first aircraft were found alive as well as three others on board the second aircraft. It is believed the collision occurred when one of the crew wanted to modify his position in the formation.

Crew (56-0595):
Cpt George Westbrook, pilot,
Cpt Harold Dean Thompson, copilot,
Cpt Charles Herman Blankenship, navigator, †
1st Lt George Emerson Jones, radio navigator, †
Cpt Toki Endo, EWO,
M/Sgt Olen Burke McLaughlin, air gunner. †

Crew (56-0627):
Maj John Suther, pilot,
Cpt William Creedon, copilot,
Lt Rod Gable, navigator,
Maj Gen William Joseph Crumm, air cdr, †
Maj Paul Andrew Avolese, radio navigator, †
Cpt David Fritz Bittenbender, EWO, †
Sgt Lynn Chase, air gunner.

On a mission against the Israeli air base of Ramat David when missed the target, bombed the town of Netanya instead (hitting the main street and injuring a number of civilians). Was shot down by 40 mm Bofors L/70 anti-aircraft guns of the Israeli Unit 881 while at low altitude and crashed into a military storage complex hidden within a pine forest located west of Afula. All 6 crew, among them Captain Hussein Mohammad Husseini, and 11 or 14 Israeli reservists on the ground were killed.

The crew departed Đà Nẵng Airport on a bombing mission over the Thanh Hoa bridge. Following an apparent uneventful mission, it is believed the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Sông Mã River. Nevertheless, no trace of the aircraft nor the eight crew member was ever found.
Crew:
Maj Thomas Franklin Case,
1st Lt Harold Jacob Zook,
Cpt Emmett Raymond McDonald,
Cpt Armon D. Shingledecker,
1st William Rothroc Edmondson,
S/Sgt Bobby Joe Alberton,
AM1C Philip Joseph Stickney,
AM1C Elroy Edwin Harworth.

The crew departed Manono on a bombing mission. Few minutes later, while flying over Lake Upemba, the airplane exploded in mid-air and crashed into the lake, killing all three occupants. It is believed that ammunition stored in the cabin exploded in flight.

While on a night bombing mission, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15 fighter and crashed about 20 km south of Pyongyang. Five crew members were rescued and became POW while nine others were killed.
Crew:
A2c Gerald D. Abrahamson,
1st Lt Gilbert L. Ashley Jr., †
1st Lt Dewey R. Henry, †
A2c Hidemaro S. Ishida,
Sgt Lee H. Miller,
A2c James J. O'Meara Jr., †
1st Lt Arthur R. Olsen, †
A2c James D. Pope, †
A2c Edward A. Schwab, †
2nd Lt John P. Shaddick III, †
A3c Frank J. Stevenson,
2nd Lt Dewey Stopa, †
1st Lt Harold P. Turner, †
A2c Robert L. Weinbrandt.

The aircraft was on a bombing mission over the Anju Marshaling Yard when it was hit by enemy fire from MiG-15's immediately prior to bombs away. After bombs away and while still under attack, the aircraft started losing altitude. After crossing the Taedong River by Chinnampo, the aircraft commander reported number three engine on fire. Twelve of thirteen members of the crew bailed out. The burning B-29 flew toward friendly lines while USAF Fighter Jets followed it, however, the B-29 continued to descend until it hit the side of a mountain and exploded. The crew killed was Captain Arthur Heise.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com

Shot down by the pilots of Soviet AF MiG-15 and crashed about 40 km north of Pyongyang. It is believed that seven crew members were killed while five others became POW.
Crew:
1st Lt Harold Copland,
M/Sgt Patrick M. Differ, †
1st Lt Robert R. Foster, †
2nd Lt David T. Heer, †
A1c Rudolf Nikles, †
A2c Damian F. O'Toole, †
1st Lt Otho A. Orr,
1st Lt Harry M. Rehm, †
A2c Daryl E. Rodney, †
A2c Donald G. Swalls,
A2c Leland H. Van Slyke,
1st Lt Paul I. Wilcox.

Following a bombing mission over North Korea, the heavy bomber was returning to its base in Kadena when it was attacked by few Soviet AF MiG-15. Out of control, the aircraft went into a dive and two occupants were able to bail out before it crashed into the sea about eight km north of the Ch'o-do Island. Twelve crew members were killed and two others were rescued.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert J. Bird, †
T/Sgt Morton H. Jensen, †
Maj Kassel M. Keene, †
A2c Robert J. McLoughlin, †
A2c James L. Nichols, †
1st Lt James K. Peck, †
A1c James H. Porter, †
Maj William F. Sawyer,
2nd Lt Myron F. Sestak, †
1st Lt Beverly A. Swingle, †
S/Sgt Raymond Thompson, †
M/Sgt Horace N. Tiller, †
S/Sgt William H. Whitman, †
1st Lt Allan R. Winchester.