Crash of a Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress into the Gulf of Tonkin

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0056
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
464008
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over Vinh in North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The captain decided to evacuate the target area but with two engines out of service, electric and hydraulic systems out, he ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The airplane crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin and all six crew members, wounded, were evacuated by the crew of a USAF HH-53 helicopter and USMC CH-46 helicopter.
Crew:
Lt Col Gerald Wickline, pilot,
Cpt William "Bill" F. Milcarek, copilot,
Cpt Myles McTernan, navigator,
Maj Roger A. Klingbeil, radio navigator,
Cpt William E. Fergason, EWO,
T/Sgt Carlos S. Killgore, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress near U-Tapao NAS

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0599
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17282
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 four engines on the left side were out of service, the crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in an isolated area. All six crew were found alive.
Crew:
Cpt John Mize, pilot,
Cpt Terrence Gruters, copilot,
Lt William Robinson, navigator,
Cpt Dennis Anderson, EWO,
Cpt William North, radio navigator,
T/Sgt Peter E. Whalen, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress in Trùng Quán: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0605
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
17288
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 Andersen AFB, Guam. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. Out of control, it crashed in Trùng Quán, a district located northeast of Hanoi. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Frank Lewis, pilot,
Cpt Samuel Cusimano, copilot,
1st Lt Bennie Fryer, navigator, †
Maj James Condon, radio navigator,
Maj Allen Johnson, EWO, †
M/Sgt James Gough, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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 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.