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

Date & Time: May 12, 1968 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0548
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3156
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Khâm Đức Airfield, the aircraft was hit by small artillery and hydraulic systems failed. After touch down, the aircraft was uncontrollable and veered off runway before hitting a parked helicopter. All five crewmen were unhurt but the aircraft was later intentionally destroyed. Crew, from the 21st squadron, was flying to Khâm Đức to evacuate troops on an emergency evacuation process of the camp.
Crew:
Captain Delmore, pilot,
Joe Donahue, copilot.
Thanks to Bill Schneider from the Khâm Đức Group, who added the following comment: the aircraft was guided off the runway on purpose by superior flying skills. It did not catch on fire at that time but was destroyed for good by USAF fighters that destroyed all remaining assets on the ground, including the SF Camp, engineer equipment and anything that could be of any value to the North Vietnam Army. Delmore's crew was picked up just a few minutes later by a USMC CH-46 helicopter.
Probable cause:
Hydraulic failure on approach caused by artillery bullets.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Phù Cát

Date & Time: May 7, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4176
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
117
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 Phù Cát Airfield, while in initial climb, the crew reported an engine failure when the airplane stalled and crashed few dozen yards from the runway end. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968
Operator:
Registration:
43-16159
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phu Cat - Pleiku
MSN:
20625
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phu Cat when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Leslie Earl Harris, †
Maj Teddy James Tomchesson, †
Lt Barry Lynn Brown, †
Cpt Edward Chester Krawczyk, †
S/Sgt James Edgar Bowman, †
Sgt Douglas Joseph Cradeur, †
Sgt Roy Leo Lede. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968
Operator:
Registration:
44-76207
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phù Cát - Phù Cát
MSN:
15791/32539
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phù Cát when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. Six crew members survived while three others were killed. Those killed were Cpt Donald Lewis Merry, Maj Richard William +1. Wackerfuss.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Shau Valley: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0298
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3602
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Several C-130 Hercules transport planes were used to fly supply runs to an airstrip at A Loui. The aircraft approached under low clouds, airdropping the supplies from the rear ramp. Several aircraft were hit by enemy ground fire. The 21st supply aircraft was hit by .50 calibre and 37 mm ground fire. A fire erupted in the cargo hold and the crew attempted to jettison the burning load while the pilot attempted a forced landing on the airstrip. The airplane struck trees, crashed and burst into flames. All eight occupants were killed, among them two photographs.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Bruce: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1968 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hurlburt Field - Hurlburt Field
MSN:
20051
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
Moose 09
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Hultburt Field AFB at 0800LT on a training mission under call sign Moose 09. The assigned mission was a routine SEA serial spray training flight. The formation proceeded to a point 25 nm northwest of Panama City, Florida (the designated spray training area), arriving there at 08:35 CST. At this time a series of simulated defoliation runs were conducted over an open field. At approximately 08:50 CST Aircraft 54-0602 assumed the number three position in a right echelon formation for practice defoliation runs along a series of roads. At the completion of the first run the lead aircraft gave a command to place the aircraft in a "piggy back" formation, then climbed from 150 feet AGL to approximately 300 feet AGL and executed a 270 degree turn to the right. While in this turn the Number Three aircraft contacted the ground in a left wing low position, cartwheeled, immediately caught fire and was destroyed. The instructor pilot, two student pilots, and the flight engineer sustained fatal injuries.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules at Bunard Camp

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0480
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kadena - Bunard Camp
MSN:
3088
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Kadena to Bunard Camp located 80 km north of Biên Hòa. On short final, the aircraft encountered turbulences caused by the rotor of a USAF helicopter and control was lost. The airplane landed hard and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Heavy landing caused by rotor turbulences.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Khe Sanh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-0967
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mactan - Khe Sanh
MSN:
3654
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After landing at Khe Sanh Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the left then collided with several vehicles (trucks) and came to rest in flames. All eight occupants were injured and the passenger died from his injuries few days later.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the failure of the pitch control system on engines number three and four.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Đức Phổ: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0653
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20102
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
According to the testimony of John R. Young, there was a sudden loss of power. The aircraft came down fast and hard. The captain tried to belly land when the plane broke up below cockpit and became a giant plow. Two occupants (pilot and taskmaster) were fatally injured and other occupants were injured, some seriously. There were few troops and locals on board at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123K Provider in Nakhon Phanom

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0589
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
MSN:
20038
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
14847
Circumstances:
The airplane was operating over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos when its port engine was damaged by AAA near Ban Namchalo. The pilot aborted the mission and carefully made his way back to Nakhon Phanom where he made an emergency landing. All five crew members were uninjured but the aircraft was so badly damaged that it had to be scrapped.
Source: Chris Hobson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.