Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II near Recife: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1968 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-5178
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Paramaribo - Recife
MSN:
43588
YOM:
1951
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Recife-Guararapes Airport by night when at an altitude of 1,890 feet, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 80 km northwest of Recife. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 10 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew apparently started the descent prematurely.

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

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-9761
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
226
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While engaged in a dropping mission, the airplane was flying at low height and reduced speed when it stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Those killed were:
Cpt Kenneth James Hoffman,
A1C Gary Raymond McKendrick.
Probable cause:
Stall caused by too low speed at too low altitude during a dropping mission.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0595
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20044
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on an airbase located somewhere in South Vietnam, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked helicopter. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Tây Ninh

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1968 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1861
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Katum - Tuy Hòa
MSN:
3825
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 Katum Airfield, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The pilot decided to divert to Tây Ninh Airfield for an emergency landing when the engine number one caught fire. It was shot down and its propeller was feathered. Upon landing, the left wing was on fire and the left main gear still retracted. The airplane came to rest and was later destroyed by fire while all five crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Shut down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Đắk Tô

Date & Time: May 29, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4189
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay – Đắk Tô
MSN:
132
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Đắk Tô Airfield, the airplane was hit by enemy fire, stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. All 30 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123K Provider off Xóm Rach Tàu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0588
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
20037
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an aerial attack of a Viêt Cong camp located at Xóm Rach Tàu, at the extreme south coast of South Vietnam. While cruising at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The left engine and the left wing caught fire and the crew elected to evacuate the area when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Emmet Rucker,
Maj James L. Shanks,
Sgt Herbert E. Schmidt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas VC-54G at Hanscom Field AFB

Date & Time: May 22, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-0585
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Andrews - Hanscom Field
MSN:
36038
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bedford-Hanscom Field AFB, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located less than a mile from the runway threshold. All three crew members were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Muang Nong: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0477
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3085
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a flare mission over south Laos when it crashed in a huge explosion in the jungle. All nine crew members were killed and the exact circumstances of the crash was not determined. It may be possible the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire but this was not proven.
Crew:
Lt Col William Henderson Mason,
Cpt Thomas Barry Mitchell,
Maj Jerry Lee Chambers,
Cpt William Thomas McPhail,
S/Sgt Calvin Charles Glover,
Sgt Gary Pate,
A1C John Quincy Adam,
A1C Thomas Edward Knebel,
A1C Melvin Douglas Rash.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sông Bé

Date & Time: May 15, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7875
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3945
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Sông Bé Airfield, one of the engine failed for unknown reason. The airplane stalled and crashed in flames short of runway. All seven crew members escaped while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Khâm Đức: 155 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1968 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0297
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khâm Đức - Saigon
MSN:
3600
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
150
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
155
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Khâm Đức Airfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft was shot down by North-Vietnamese soldiers who were conducting an assault of the airbase. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion some 4 km east of the airfield. All 155 occupants, South-Vietnamese soldiers with their wife and children, were killed. Up to date, this was the worst crash by the USAF and the worst in Vietnam.
Crew:
Maj Bernard Ludwig Bucher,
1st Lt Stephan Craig Moreland,
S/Sgt Frank Monroe Hepler,
A1C George Wendell Long,
Maj John Lee McElroy,
Cpt Warren Robert Orr (was among the passenger).
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.