Đà Nẵng

While flying in the vicinity of Chu Lai, the airplane exploded in mid-air and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Maj Robert Hayes,
Cpt Bruce Cardy,
1st Lt Wendell Curry,
S/Sgt Isaac Corbett,
S/Sgt Norman Sweat.

Following an uneventful flight from Saigon via Pleiku, the crew started the descent to Đà Nẵng in marginal weather conditions. The visibility was relatively limited due to clouds. On final, the DC-4 was cleared to land on runway 17L. At the same time, the crew of a USAF F4E Phantom II registered 67-0393 was approaching runway 17R when he was contacted by ATC and also cleared to land. The crew of the DC-4 understood this message was dedicated to him so the captain made a turn to the right to join the runway 17R approach path. Doing so in limited visibility, he failed to see the Phantom that was approaching from his right side. Both airplane collided and while the Phantom was able to land, the Skymaster entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a rice paddy field located about three km from the runway threshold. Two passengers were seriously injured while 75 other occupants and two people on the ground were killed. Two other people working in the field were also injured.

At 12:05 on 18 May 1969 the Marine Corps KC-130F tanker departed Da Nang Air Base on a routine operational tanker mission. The aircraft continued to the Hue Phu Bai Area for the in-flight refueling mission. The tanker had departed its assigned track by and was proceeding toward the ocean before turning southeast to Da Nang. The KC-130F proceeded southbound for the Hue Phu Bai airfield area while refueling two US Marine Corps McDonnell F-4B Phantom fighter aircraft (152270 and 151450). All three aircraft were descending in a "tobogganing" maneuver while heading southbound in the vicinity of the South Vietnam Coastline. At the same time a separate USMC F-4B Phantom (151001) was heading in a generally westbound direction toward the Hue Phu Bai military area. The two aircraft approached each other nearly head on with a closing rate of approximately 700 knots true airspeed. The initial impact by the F-4B was in the vicinity of the number four engine and the starboard refueling pod on the KC-130F. The radome on the F-4B cleared the propeller on the number four engine as the cockpit initially impacted with it. The single F-4B crashed and the pilot and RIO died instantly. The KC-130F crashed into the sea. One of the refueling F-4B's was severely damaged from the initial crash debris. Phantom 151450 plugged into the starboard drogue, was sprayed with fuel and apparently ingested an undetermined amount of debris into both engines. The F-4B aircraft flipped uncontrollably to an inverted position while the drogue and a portion of the hose remained attached to the aircraft. Its engines could not sustain power and the fighter crashed at sea. Both crew members successfully ejected and were recovered. The second refueling F-4B fighter, 152270 was plugged into the port refueling drogue and sustained limited damage in the form of two small holes in the port aileron and a 1/2 inch hole in the starboard wingtip. The pilot observed the spinning tanker, and when it was apparent he could render no further assistance returned to Chu Lai Air Base without further incident.
Crew:
Maj Jimmie Dwayne Sells,
Maj John Clarence Williamson,
MGSgt Carroll Franklin Hersey,
M/Sgt Edmond Chester Polenski,
Sgt Robert Allen Bonebright,
Cpl James Allen Cox.
Source: The Marine Air Transporter

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck trees and crashed on the slope of a wooded mountain. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 12 occupants were killed.

Few minutes after takeoff from Chu Lai Airbase, the crew encountered technical difficulties with the fuel transfer system. When engine developed problems, the pilot loss of control of the aircraft that crashed. Three crew members were killed while a fourth occupant was rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Kenneth Roy Crist,
1st Lt Roger Henry Strout,
S/Sgt Jesse John Bradshaw.

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the right engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller nor to maintain the assigned altitude so the captain decided to divert to Buôn Ma Thuột Airport. While descending, the airplane went out of control and crashed at an altitude of 700 meters on a plateau located 18 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed, among them two US civilians.
Crew:
Lt Col Howard Elmer Van Vliet,
Lt Col Robert Brooks Richardson,
Lt Col Council Lee Royal,
Maj Gerald Eugene Burgener,
Maj Basil Lincoln Ciriello,
Maj Gerald Dean Ziehe,
Cpt Gayland Omer Scott,
M/Sgt William Parker Bowman,
T/Sgt Donald William Bruck,
T/Sgt Billy Day Morris,
T/Sgt John Derral Thomas,
S/Sgt Eugene William Hendricks.

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Đà Nẵng to Khe Sanh, carrying a load of various equipment and fuel drums. On approach to Khe Sanh, the airplane was struck by enemy artillery and the engine number three exploded. The pilot-in-command continued the approach and after touchdown, the airplane exploded and came to rest in flames on runway. All five passengers and three crew members were killed while three others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. It was reported that the explosion that occurred after landing were caused by the ignition of the jet fuel carried on board.
Crew:
CW0 Henry Wildfang,
Maj Robert E. White,
M/Sgt John D'Adamo, †
LCpl David Ralf Devik, †
LCpl Jerry Wayne Ferren. †

Ten minutes after takeoff from Huế Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,850 feet high) located about 10 km from the airfield. The wreckage was found two days later about 150 feet below the summit and all 24 occupants have been killed. It appears the aircraft struck the mountain at a speed of 465 km/h. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds.
Crew:
Lt Col Christopher Braybrooke,
Maj Robert William Anderson,
Cpt Scott McClelland Burkett,
A1C Terry Michael Rehm,
A2C Ronald Paul Ruyf.

The crew was completing a flight from Chu Lai to Đà Nẵng on behalf of the contingent of USS Oriskany. While descending to the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was instructed to make a turn to the right to join the approach path when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed approximately 16 km from the airport. All five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds. The bodies were found in 1993.
Crew:
Ltjg Andrew Gilbert Zissu,
Ltjg Normal Lee Roggow,
Ltjg Donald Findling Wolfe,
ATC Roland Robert Pineau,
Seaman Raul Antonio Guerra.

The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Quảng Ngãi to Đà Nẵng with an intermediate stop in Tam Kỳ on behalf of the US Air Force. Shortly after takeoff from Tam Kỳ Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. Four passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.