Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress in Hanoi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1972 at 2148 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0674
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464045
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from U-Tapao NAS. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a North Vietnam MiG-21 fighter and crashed in the district of Giáp Nhị in Hanoi. Two crew members were killed four others were rescued and taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Robert John Morris Jr., pilot, †
1st Lt Robert Markham Hudson, copilot,
1st Lt Duane Paul Vavroch, navigator,
Col Michael Harold La Beau, radio navigator,
Cpt Nutter Jerome Wimbrow III, EWO, †
M/Sgt James Raymond Cook, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-70-BO Stratofortress at U-Tapao NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0584
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17267
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from U-Tapao NAS. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The crew decided to leave the target area and to return to U-Tapao NAS for an emergency landing. As the air gunner was wounded, the captain refused to bail out. On approach, as four engines were out of service on the same side, he was forced to initiate a go-around when control was lost. The airplane crashed near the airbase and was destroyed. Four crew members were killed while two others survived.
Crew:
Cpt James Mack Turner, pilot, †
1st Lt Robert Joseph Hymel,
Maj Lawrence Jay Marshall, navigator, †
Lt Col Donald Arrington Joyner, radio navigator, †
Cpt Roy Tom Tabler, EWO, †
T/Sgt Spencer L. Grippin, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-1-BW Stratofortress in Bạch Mai

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0050
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464002
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The plane went out of control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi. All six crew members were taken PoW.
Crew:
Lt Col John Harr Yuill, pilot,
Cpt David Ian Drummond, copilot,
1st Lt William Thomas Mayall, navigator,
Lt Col William Walter Conlee, EWO,
Lt Col Louis Henry Bernasconi, radio navigator,
M/Sgt Gary Lee Morgan, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-15-BW Stratofortress in Bạch Mai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0061
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464013
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The plane went out of control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi. Three crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Peter James Giroux, pilot,
Cpt Thomas Waring Bennett, copilot, †
1st Lt Joseph Bernard Copack Jr., navigator, †
Cpt Peter Paul Camerota, EWO,
Lt Col Gerald William Alley, †
M/Sgt Louis Edward LeBlanc Jr., air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Spectre near Pakse: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0490
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3098
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase to attack some trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail 12 passengers and a crew of four on board. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, the airplane was hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. Two crew members parachuted to safety while 14 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Harry Roy Lagerwall, †
Cpt Stanley Neal Kroboth, †
Maj Paul Oswald Meder, †
Maj Francis Anthony Walsh, †
Cpt Joel Ray Birch, †
Cpt Thomas Trammell Hart, †
Cpt Robert Leonel Liles, †
2nd Lt George Duncan MacDonald, †
1st Lt Delmar Ernest Dickens, †
A1C Charles Frederick Fenter, †
T/Sgt Robert Thomas Elliott, †
T/Sgt James Ray Fuller, †
T/Sgt John Quitman Winningham, †
Sgt Richard Williams,
Sgt Carl E. Stevens,
A1C Rollie Keith Reaid. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress in Kinh No: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0169
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464237
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Tan 03
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Tan 03 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile) and crash in Kinh No. A crew member survived while five others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Randall James Craddock, pilot, †
Cpt George Barry Lockhart, copilot, †
1st Lt Charles Edward Darr, navigator, †
Maj Bobby Alexander Kirby, radio navigator, †
Cpt Ronald Dwight Perry, EWO, †
M/Sgt James Leon Lollar, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-100-BW Stratofortress in Kinh No: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0198
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464266
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island with seven crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile) and crashed in Kinh No. Four crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Col James Yoshikazu Nagahiro, pilot,
Cpt Donovan Keith Walters, copilot, †
Lt Col Keith Russell Heggen,
Cpt Lynn Richard Beens, navigator,
Cpt Robert Ray Lynn, EWO, †
Maj Edward Harvey Johnson, radio navigator, †
A1C Charles "Chuck" James Bebus, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-80-BW Stratofortress near Nakhon Phanom

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Andersen - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
464186
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Brass 02
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Brass 02 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The crew was able to leave the target area and to fly to Thailand but eventually, all six crew members were forced to abandon the aircraft that crashed about 16 km southwest of Nakhon Phanom. The aircraft was destroyed while all six crew members survived.
Crew:
Cpt John Ettinger, pilot,
Cpt Lawrence A. Casazza, pilot,
Maj Charles E. Archie, copilot,
1st Lt Robert A. Clement, radio navigator,
Cpt Silverio A. Barroqueiro, navigator,
T/Sgt George H. Schryer, EWO.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress in Laos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0669
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464040
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
Straw 2
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Straw 2 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The pilot was able to leave the target area and elected to fly to Thailand but while over Laos, all six crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in an isolated area. Five crew members survived while the sixth occupant, Maj Frank Gould, radio navigator, was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-85-BW Stratofortress in Yên Viên: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6496
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
264201
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Quilt 3
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Quilt 3 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile) and crashed in Yên Viên. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Terry Mercer Geloneck, pilot,
1st Lt William Youl Arcuri, copilot,
1st Lt Michael Robert Martini, navigator,
Cpt Warren R. Spencer, radio navigator, †
Cpt Craig Alan Paul, EWO, †
S/Sgt Roy Madden, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.