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

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-9723
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phù Cát – Tiên Phước
MSN:
156
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tiên Phước, the airplane was hit by a mortal shell. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed few km short of runway threshold. The copilot survived while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt David Bicknel Bowling, †
1st Lt R. J. Patterson,
T/Sgt E. J. Welch. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker off Ching Chuan Kang AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3629
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ching Chuan Kang - Ching Chuan Kang
MSN:
17378
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
6794
Circumstances:
The aircraft was part of a formation of four Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker engaged in a refuelling mission over South China Sea. Shortly after takeoff from Ching Chuan Kang AFB in Taichung, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed into the sea few miles offshore. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Gene Thomas Wright, pilots +3.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of windshear.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Gia Nghĩa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4562
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20223
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gia Nghĩa, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located few dozen yards short of runway threshold. It broke in two and caught fire. A crew member was killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Tainan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1800
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3754
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tainan Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed few km short of runway. All eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Crashed inverted after overshooting in traffic pattern when propeller went into reverse.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Bù Đốp: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0499
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3107
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While landing at Bu Dop, the C-130 had a recoilless rifle round explode near its right wing. It taxied to the cargo pad and unloaded its cargo of 105 artillery ammunition. It then taxied to the end of the runway and the aircraft attempted to takeoff with three engines. The right outboard engine was feathered. It reached an altitude of about 300 ft when the right inboard engine seized pulling the aircraft into the antitank mine field where it struck an antitank mine which blew the aircraft in half at the landing gear. The front portion of the aircraft slid just barely into the camp through the anti personnel minefield. Reportedly there were four fatalities on the ground: Cambodian strike force members of the 5th Special Forces III Mobile Strike Force.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules near Ban Talan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0533
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3141
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani Airport on an orbital control flight at 9,000 feet. En route, the airplane was hit by several rounds of 37 mm flak and burst into flames. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous and isolated area. SAR operations were abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The remains of the crew were returned from Laos in November 1993 and positively identified in October 1995.
Crew:
Cpt Earl Carlyle Brown,
1st Lt Peter Richard Matthes,
Maj Michael Dimitri Belamonti,
Cpt Richard Owen Ganley,
S/Sgt Charles Richard Fellenz,
S/Sgt Larry Irwin Grewell,
S/Sgt Donald Lee Wright,
Sgt Rexford John DeWispelaere.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Rockwell T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner off Eglin AFB

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2871
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eglin - Eglin
MSN:
265-4
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Eglin AFB on a local test flight on board this aircraft that was fitted with radiological test equipment for Project "Have Doughnut". Following an uneventful mission, the crew was approaching the airbase when he encountered foggy conditions. On final, the airplane crashed into the Choctawhatchee, about 2,5 miles short of runway threshold. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank.

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-105-BO Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0041
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
17435
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Alaska: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72611
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Elmendorf – King Salmon
MSN:
10716
YOM:
1945
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Elmendorf AFB to King Salmon. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1972 in an isolated area.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119G Flying Boxcar in Saigon: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
52-5907
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11074
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Shadow 76
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while climbing, an engine failed and caught fire. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a huge explosion. Six of the 10 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was carrying a load of ammunitions.
Those killed were:
Lt Col Bernard Richard Knapic,
Maj Moses Lopes Alves,
Maj Jerome James Rice,
Cpt John Hooper V. Hathaway,
S/Sgt Ellsworth Smith Bradford,
S/Sgt Abraham Lincoln Moore.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff for undetermined reason.