Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Spectre near Pakse: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0490
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3098
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase to attack some trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail 12 passengers and a crew of four on board. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, the airplane was hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. Two crew members parachuted to safety while 14 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Harry Roy Lagerwall, †
Cpt Stanley Neal Kroboth, †
Maj Paul Oswald Meder, †
Maj Francis Anthony Walsh, †
Cpt Joel Ray Birch, †
Cpt Thomas Trammell Hart, †
Cpt Robert Leonel Liles, †
2nd Lt George Duncan MacDonald, †
1st Lt Delmar Ernest Dickens, †
A1C Charles Frederick Fenter, †
T/Sgt Robert Thomas Elliott, †
T/Sgt James Ray Fuller, †
T/Sgt John Quitman Winningham, †
Sgt Richard Williams,
Sgt Carl E. Stevens,
A1C Rollie Keith Reaid. †
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.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress in Laos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0669
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464040
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
Straw 2
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Straw 2 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 pilot was able to leave the target area and elected to fly to Thailand but while over Laos, all six crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in an isolated area. Five crew members survived while the sixth occupant, Maj Frank Gould, radio navigator, was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-85-BW Stratofortress in Yên Viên: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6496
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
264201
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Quilt 3
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Quilt 3 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 crashed in Yên Viên. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Terry Mercer Geloneck, pilot,
1st Lt William Youl Arcuri, copilot,
1st Lt Michael Robert Martini, navigator,
Cpt Warren R. Spencer, radio navigator, †
Cpt Craig Alan Paul, EWO, †
S/Sgt Roy Madden, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-80-BO Stratofortress near Khon Kaen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0622
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17305
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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 crew was able to leave the area but once over Thailand, the airplane lost height and crashed 35 km east of Khon Kaen. Two crew members survived while four others were killed.
Crew:
Maj John Franklin Stuart, pilot, †
1st Lt Paul Granger, copilot,
Cpt Thomas Klomann, navigator,
Maj Randolph Perry Jr., radio navigator, †
Cpt Irwin Lerner, EWO, †
M/Sgt Arthur McLaughlin, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-110-BW Stratofortress in Yên Viên: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0201
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464269
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island 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 airplane lost height and crashed in a field located in Yên Viên and was destroyed. Three crew members were taken PoW while three others were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Donald Louis Rissi, pilot, †
1st Lt Robert James Thomas, copilot, †
Cpt Richard Thomas Simpson, EWO,
Cpt Robert Glenn Certain, navigator,
Maj Richard Edgar Johnson, radio navigator,
M/Sgt Walter Lee Ferguson, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-110-BW Stratofortress near Nam Phong AFB

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0246
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Andersen - Nam Phong
MSN:
464314
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Preach 02
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
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 Preach 02 with seven crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Kinh No in Vietnam, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The crew was able to leave the area bound for Nam Phong Airbase in Thailand but was eventually forced to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in an isolated area located about 30 km southwest of Nam Phong and was totally destroyed. All seven crew members were found alive and evacuated.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress into Huu Tiep Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0608
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17291
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
Rose 01
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand under call sign Rose 01 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 airplane lost height and crashed into the Huu Tiep Lake located in the center of Hanoi. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Hal K. Wilson, pilot,
Cpt Charles Arthur Brown, copilot,
Cpt Richard Waller Cooper, navigator, †
Maj Fernando Alexander, radio navigator,
Cpt Henry Charles Barrows, EWO,
T/Sgt Charlie Sherman Poole, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.