Hải Phòng City District

The crew departed Hanoi-Gia Lam Airport at 0930LT on a SAR mission after a Vietnam Air Force Sukhoi SU-30 was missing since two days. While cruising over the gulf of Tonkin in good weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea, some 22 km southwest of the Bạch Long Vĩ Island. Some debris were found few hours later, floating on water. All nine occupants were killed.

The HU-16B Albatross flying boat was deployed to rescue two crew members of a downed McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom off Haiphong in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Albatross landed in the sea close to the shoreline. It was quickly approached by several North Vietnamese boats. They began to open fire on the Albatross, finally firing a mortar shell. They flying boat burst into flames. The survivors were later rescued by Navy helicopters.
Crew:
Cpt David P. Westenbarger,
Lt Walter Hall,
Cpt Donald Price,
S/Sgt Clyde Jackson,
A1C Robert Larie Hilton, †
A1C James Edward Pleiman. †
Source: Chris Hobson & Joe Baugher.

Following a routine mission, the crew was approaching Hải Phòng-Cát Bi Airport when the pilot decided to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft landed hard in a field, causing the fuselage to brake in two just behind the wings. Also, both engines and both wings were severed, causing the aircraft to be written off. All five crew members were unhurt.