C-123's in SEA

Dates	A/C	Location	Unit	Description	Crewmembers KIA	Hobson Pg
2/2/1962	56-4370	Between Bien Hoa and Vung Tau	464TCW	First USAF aircraft to be lost in SEA. Ranch Hand on training mission; crashed into dense forest near Route 15 between Bien Hoa and Vung Tau	Capt. Fergus Groves II Capt. Robert Larson SSgt Milo Coghill	5
4/20/1962	56-4368	Hipp Khanh	464TCW	Cargo Mission. Landed at wrong airport; tried to take off and runway was too short. Capt. Harry Overman + 2 survived		5
7/15/1962	56-4366	24kmS Ban Me Thout	777TCS/ 464 TCW	Pilot descended through clouds over high ground but was forced to climb because of low ceiling and crashed into trees on hillside, 50 ft below summit 4 crew survived with minor injuries and were rescued 3 days later by helicopter.		5
10/29/1962	56-4364	Dak To	464 TCW	Landed on wrong airstrip in pouring rain. Hit a rocky ridge on new unfinished airstrip. Capt Richard S Dowell + 5 crew and 75 ARVN troops survived. Also had 5000 lbs ammo. Lost an engine and was only able to maintain 2500 ft. Briefing incorrect.		6
11/27/1962	20233	5.6 Km SW of Xieng Khouang (Laos)	Air Amer	Pilot and FO killed but FR Spec lived. Crashed when hit by heavy ground fire from neutralist anti-aircraft gun. A fire erupted in the cockpit , the rt engine and rt wing	Fredrick Riley Donald Heritage Charles Swain survived	Leeker
4/12/1963	56-4380	Naknon Phanom	777TCS/ 464TCW	Lt wing hit house while C123 was attempting to snare a red flag on top of a flagpole. Two died on ground.	1LT. Richard L. Hatlestad, 1Lt. Raymond Doyle, SSgt Stanley E. Truesdale SSgt. Donald Carson (died 4/15/63)	6
9/28/1963	55-4513	Maha SarakhamThailand	311TCS/ 315TCG	Crashed on an airlift support mission. Was going to Roiet,a smooth pasture in N. Thailand. Mistook the infield of a racetrack through clouds and landed. Nose gear collapsed and A/C was destroyed. Maj Warner +3 crewmembers survived.		7
10/24/1963	56-4385	104 km S of Saigon	310 ACS	Shot down by ground fire while on flare dropping mission.	Capt. Woodrow M. Fitzgerald; Capt. Gordon R. Brown; SSgt Charles B. Lankford; SSgt Walter K. Morris 4 VNAF observers.	7
2/16/1964	UNK	UNK	UNK	1 survivor; shot down by a NVN T-28	UNK	ASN
7/23/1964	56-4283	Gia Vuc	315 TCG	Veered off runway on landing, crashed into barracks and caught fire due to reverse pitch mechanism failed on one propeller. 4 crew survived.		9
9/12/1964	540-20237	Ban Na, Laos	Air Am	Crew member fell out with the load, was not wearing a parachute.	Howland Baker	Leeker
10/24/1964	55-4549	Near Phum Dak Dam, Cambodia	309 ACS	Hit by anti-aircraft artillery and crashed. Took off from Nha Trang to drop ammo at Sp. Forces Camp (Bu Prang), Hit in rt engine by AAA from Cambodia. Crashed just inside South Viet Nam Border.	Capt. Edward Krukowski 1Lt Valmore W. Bourque 1Lt Robert G Armstrong SSgt Ernest J. Halvorson SSgt. Theodore Phillips AIC Eugene Richardson SSgt Lawrence Woods(USA) PFC Charles P. Sparks (USA)	11
12/22/1964	55-4522	10Km from DaNang; Monkey Mtn	MACV-SOG	Project Duck Hook ; may be listed as crashed Feb 13 1965. Mystery surrounds this crash.		Leeker
3/28/1965	57-6292	Da Nang AB	311 ACS	Destroyed in ground collision with VNAF A1. 4 crew survived		16
5/12/1965	55-4516	Hon Quan	310ACS	Crashed due to pilot error during a flight in So VN. 5 crew survived		20
6/11/1965	56-4379	13km S of Holloway Field	310ACS	Hit mountain while attempting a supply drop in bad weather	Maj. Samuel Ganci Capt Alvin J. Dimond Capt. Terrence Titus SSgt Paul Dawson SSgt Merle E. Estes SSgt Norman Williams AIC James Coy	22
6/27/1965		Xom Long Dinh	MACV-SOG Special Activities Squadron	Mysterious crash; provider thought to have exploded mid-air during bombing raid, flare drop or evacuating civilians.	Capt Carl Edwin Jackson SSgt Billie Roth 14 Chinese nationalists.	23
10/3/1965	20234	Long Tieng	Air Amer	Provider crashed in an unsuccessful attempt to go around after pilot reportedly saw drums on the runway	Copilot Frank Muscal	Leeker
10/30/1965	56-4381	Tan Hiep AB	315ACG	Damaged beyond repair in aborted takeoff. 4 crew survived		37
11/13/1965	5007X	Udorn AB, Thailand	Air Am	Fell from C-123B while taxiing	Rizel J. Alamares
11/21/1965	55-4530	Da Nang Airport	315ACG	Crashed 1 mile short of runway in heavy rain, high winds and darkness after suffering an engine failure. 5 crewed survived.		40
11/18/1965	20199 55-4538	Sayaboury	Air Am	Stalled and crashed on take-off. 5 crew and 58 passengers injured		Leeker
11/29/1965	54-0651	South VN	309ACS	Shot down by ground fire; both crew survived.		40
12/11/1965	56-4376	32 kmW of Tuy Hoa	309 ACS	C123 contacted trees on a ridge line and entered a spin crashing 1000ft below. The ridge line had an elevation of about 4000ft and was probably barely visible with low ceilings between 50-100ft and rain showers. 81 SVN paratroopers died	Maj Robert Horsky Capt George McKnight SSgt Mercedes Salinas SSgt Donald Stewart	42
1/4/1966	56-4369	Tanh Linh	315ACG	Crash-landed after engine failure. All 5 crewmembers survived. Possibly on flare mission.		46
1/9/1966	54-0676	Near Saigon	315ACG	During a re-supply flight, a fire started in fuselage and the Provider crash-landed . Possibly sabotage related to the cargo. Capt. Coulter and Capt. Bagnant survived.		46
1/13/1966	55-4519	An Khe	310ACS	Crashed following midair collision w/A1E Skyraider at night while acting as flare-ship for the Skyraider that was attacking VC position.	Capt. Wayne Anderson Capt. Herman Ritchie TSgt. Thomas Fodaro TSgt. Owen Hoffman SSgt. Byron Crotwell SSgt. Edward Hincewicz	47
1/25/1966	54-0702	9km E of An Khe on a mountain by Hwy 19 just east of An Khe Pass	311ACS	C123 carried 42 soldiers & ammo/grenades. The Provider had departed An Khe with 42 army personnel going to Special Forces camp Bong Son 65k NE. Lost an engine in the clouds and attempted to return to An Khe. Crash into side of a steep mountain. witnessed by squad of 1st Bn 8th Cav guarding the pass.	Capt Harry Crumley Capt Edward Handly SSgt Leonard Williams SSgt Richard Youtsey 42 Army Troops	48
2/3/1966	55-4537	16 km from Khe Sanh	311ACS	Hostile action suspected when the Provider disappeared on short airlift support mission. May have had 4 VN troops. Extensive searching did not find the plane.	Major James Carter Capt Wilbur Brown A1C Edward Parsley(lM) A1C Thurmond Waller(FM)	49
4/13/1966	56-4382	Tan Son Nhut	315 ACW	VC mortar attack destroyed the Provider on the ground.		55
5/17/1966	55-4534	near Vinh Thanh	310ACS	Shot down by ground fire while on a candlestick mission and the Provider burst into flames. Pilots tried to reach an airfield but crashed and all were killed.	Capt. Stanley G. Cox 1stLt Albert R. Wilson MSgt. Raymond Jajtner A1C William J. Moore A1C Jerry M. Wall	59
6/20/1966	56-4378	5km N of Tam Ky	309ACS	Ranch Hand Defoliation Mission; shot down by small arms fire causing a crash and burn; Crew rescued by marine helos ; aircraft later destroyed by B57. No fatalities. 1stLt Paul Clanton; 1st Lt Steven A. Aigner; SSgt. Elijah Winstead survived.		62
6/30/1966	54-0644 or (55-4644)	Qui Nhon AB	310ACS/ 315ACW	Crashed on landing after losing an engine. Three crew members survived and one died later. Capt. Richard J. McSweeny, copilot unknown, and Sgt Ronald C. Willerscheidt survived.	SSgt Robert Ray Myles was seriously injured and died on 7/26/66	64
10/31/1966	54-0597	13km W of Lai Khe	12thACS	Defoliation Mission; shot down by small arms fire. Pilot made forced landing on top of jungle underbrush that was about 20-30 ft high; 3 occupants ok. SSgt. Elijah Winstead's-second crash. Capt. Thomas Davie and Capt Joseph Dougherty also survived.		79
11/26/1966	56-4367	Dam Tieng	19thACS	Shortly after takeoff hit by small arms fire(50 caliber bullets). Hydraulic fluid fire erupted; The SVN paratroopers panicked but the crew belly-landed at Dam Tieng. 37 onboard lived. Capt R. Nagel; 1Lt Anavil; 35ARVN paratroopers.		82
1/4/1967	56-4372	Buny Buny	19 ACS	The Provider was destroyed on landing. Five crew survived		85
1/31/1967	54-0611	24km W Sepone	12th ACS	On 4th spray run, the lead Provider rolled inverted, crashed and caught fire thought to be due to ground fire. Another Provider was hit and managed to land at Khe Sanh due to great skill of its crew.	Capt. Roy Kubley Maj. Lloyd Walker Capt. Harvey Mulhauser Capt. Howard L. Barden A1C Ronald K. Miyazaki	87
4/5/1967			19th ACS	Loadmaster fell from the aircraft while closing a troop door.	A1C Ronald R. Schnaidt
5/21/1967			12th ACS	While on a spray mission a single bullet passed through the cockpit and killed the pilot. Aircraft landed safely.	Capt. Thomas E. Davie Jr.
4/15/1967	55-4575	Kham Duc	311ACS	Nose wheel collapse on landing at Kham Duc. First K model destroyed. 5 crew survived. Re-supply mission.		95
7/20/1967	54-0630	Near Gia Vuc	12thACS	Defoliation Mission; shot down by small arms and burst into flames and crashed.	Lt. Col. Everett Foster Maj Allan Stearns Maj Donald Steinbrunner SSgt. Irvin Weyandt Sgt Le Tan Bo (VNAF)	110
9/4/1967	54-0621	Bao Loc	19thACS	Provider captained by the CO of 19thACS disappeared on a flight from Bien Hoa to Nha Trang. Pilot error. Four of the passengers were a Ranch Hand crew on their way to pick up their aircraft that had been repaired after battle damage.	L/C Merle Turner Capt. Edward Goucher A1C James Mayo 8 passengers including Ranch Hand Crew: Capt. William B. Mahone, Capt Virgil K. Kelley, TSgt Jacklin M. Boatwright and TSgt. Harold C. Cook.	116
10/25/1967	54-0667	Tan Son Nhut airport	310th ACS	Republic F-105D Thunderchief was landing in poor weather on runway 25L and collided with C123; The wing sliced into lt side of C123; F105 caught fire killing its pilot. The C123 crew survived the crash with burns but one crewmember died a few days later. Capt Jack Dole and three other crewmembers survived.	SSgt Curtis E. Stieferman Died 4 Nov Survived crash but went back to save crewmember and inhaled flames and was extensively burned.	122
12/8/1967	54- 0582	87km sw of Ban Me Thot	310th ACS	Crash attributed to pilot error. All 5 survived		128
3/1/1968	54-0694	Khe Sanh	311ACS	Crashed on take -off after being hit by mortar fragments during a re-supply mission. All 10 survived.		139
3/6/1968	54-0590	1.6km S of Khe Sanh	311ACS	Attempted a go-around after small plane landed in front of it. Hit by ground fire in rt turbine and crashed in flames.	L/C Frederick Hampton 1Lt. Ellis Helgeson Sgt. Jeffry Conlin Sgt. Dallas H> Moore SSgt. William Anselmo & SSgt Noel Rios (15th Aerial Port Sqdn) plus 44 US Marines 1 Combat Photographer	140
3/7/1968	54-0594	Khe Sanh	311 ACS	Tail hit by VC mortar while plane on runway and then destroyed by another mortar attack the next day.		141
3/24/68	54- 0589	Nakhom Phanom	606 ACS	A/C struck by AA over Southern Laos. RTB to NKP and made emergency landing. A/C had to be scrapped. 5 crew survived		142
3/31/1968	54-0653	Phan Rang	315 ACW	Mechanical failure on take-off on a troop flight; 4 survivors.		144
5/18/1968	54-0639	10km from Bien Hoa	315 SOW	Hit by small arms fire and crashed.		ASN
5/23/1968	20104 655	Na Khang	Air Amer	Touched down 30ft short of runway and struck a two ft high embankment and main gear collapsed.		Leeker
5/23/1968	54-588	Near Xom Rach Goc	12thACS	Shot down on spray run by small arms fire. Crashed into the sea about 1 mile off coast.	L/C Emmet Rucker Maj James Shanks Sgt Herbert Schmidt	150
9/12/1968	54-0714	Vinh Long	19th SOS	Crashed landed when a prop went into reverse and plane veered off runway. All 3 crew survived.		162
12/13/1968	54-0600	Near Ban Hai	606 SOS	Collided with Martin B57ECanberra and crashed. Candlestick mission. Crew bailed out with one survivor (Lt. T.M. Turner)	1Lt Joseph Fanning 1Lt John S. Albright 1Lt Morgan Donahue MSgt. Fredrick Clarke TSgt. Samuel Walker TSgt. Douglas Daley	169
12/17/1968	54-0708	SSW of Chu Lai AB	309SOS	During ferry flight a Provider crashed due to the wrong type fuel being pumped into the aircraft..jet fuel instead of av gas. Loadmaster Pat Murray survived.	Lt. Col Richard A. Brown (311th) 1Lt Roger Strout (311th) SSgt Jesse Bradshaw (309th)	170
5/18/1969	54-0639	Bien Hoa	310 SOS	On an airlift sortie the Provider had its port engine damaged by 12.7 mm ground fire near Tanh Linh and tried to make an emergency landing at Bien Hoa but crashed six miles north of the airfield.	1Lt. Neil W. Hayden 1 Lt. Douglas M. Evans MSgt. Duane L. Hartenhoff TSgt. Kermit B. Roberts SSgt. Carl J. Wanner Sgt. Milton J. Bush	181
10/10/1969	54-0642	Kien Giang	19th SOS	Crashed on take- off from Roc Ghia; The Provider suddenly banked left and crashed. Suspected fuel starvation due to steep climb angle.	Capt William Unckrich 1Lt Charles Burrell TSgt Harry Shepard SSgt Lavoyn Jones A1C Leland Johnson	190
12/17/1969	55-4562	Gia Nghia	310 SOS	Undershot landing; broke up and destroyed by fire. 4 survivors. Provider was carrying fuel payload.	SSgt. Gary V. Clark (14th FMS)	194
1/3/1970	54-0688	Binh Thuy	19th TAS	While landing the C-123 hit part of the arresting gear used for fighters, blew a main tire, and veered off the runway into a rice paddy. All 5 survived. After a few days acids in the rice paddy destroyed the aircraft, so it was a total loss except for the engines.		196
8/10/1970	55-4527	Cam Ranh Airport	310 TAS	The C-123 was using full flaps during a practice assault landing at Cam Ranh Bay when a flap hinge broke causing uncontrollable roll. Crashed into the sea almost upside down just short of the runway. The loadmaster survived.	Maj Grant Waugh Capt Dwaine Mattox TSgt Bernard Morrill	207
11/27/1970	55-4574	25km SW Nha Trang	19th TAS	Poor weather (broken overcast at 2000ft & 1500m visibility; in route to Nha Trang when it struck trees on a ridge at 4600ft some 500 ft below top; wreck found 9 days post accident.	1Lt Marvin Arthington Maj Robert Baker 1Lt Fredrick Rader III TSgt Willian O’Kieff Sgt Allen Bodin A1C Fredrick Neff 73 ARVN Troops	209
11/29/1970	54-0649	15 miles South of Cam Ranh Bay	310 TAS	On flight from Phan Rang to Cam Ranh Bay in poor weather, the C123 crashed into high ground at 2700 ft. Thirty US Military/11 USAF personnel plus 10 ARVN troops were killed. Two ARVN survivors were found 5 days later walking toward a road. Capt Vincent Fairbrother and Sgt Gary Aldredge survived and found 7 days after crash.	Capt. Cecil Moyer Capt. Norbert Podhajsky 1Lt James Saxby SSgt Grayson Newberry SSgt Harry Watson	209
2/10/1971	56-4373	Phan Rang	310 TAS	Spraying for malarial mosquitoes; Provider was making low passes for photos.	1Lt Milton Deas 1Lt Richard O’Keefe L/C Daniel Tate MSgt Donald Dunn TSgt Clyde Hanson	212
3/19/1971	54-0650	Thein Ngon	19th TAS	Caught fire on landing w/nose gear collapse. Four survived without injury		213
12/24/1971	54-613	Long Tieng	Air Amer	An airplane taxied into rubber fuel drum; fuel ignited and burned C123 which was unloading the fuel.		Leeker
12/27/1971	57-6293	81km w Kuang Prabang	Air Amer	Possibly shot down on a peppergrinder flt w. full load of ammo &wh. phosphorus	George L. Ritter Roy Townley Edward Weissenback K. Saysongkham	Leeker
8/26/1972	54-675 20124	Near Pleiku	Air Amer	En route SGN to PXU		Leeker
8/27/1972	54-4555 or 55-20216	Near Vang Vieng	Air Amer	Left Vang Vieng w/ 13,500 Lbs palletized ordnance and hit hill in Nammeui Valley, 20 ft below ridge line at 4850 ft elevation in bad weather.	William Reeves Joel Gudahl Kickers: Praves Satarakij and T. Khammanephet and 5 passengers	Leeker
12/6/1972	54-648	3km S of Paksong	Air Amer	Shot down. Lost both ailerons, 1/2 the elevator and finally the rudder; all 4 crew bailed out. Airplane crashed and burned (cargo: ammunition and gernades for 2 drop zones in Laos. First had been completed. Neil Hansen, WC Crothers and Thai kickers Sampop and Booma.		Capt. Hansen
2/9/1973	56-4374 20258	near Thakhet East	Air Amer	Shot down by missile on flight to Savannakhet with 12,000 lbs of general cargo. Both pilots missing; one kicker killed when jumped without parachute; the other survived,	Howard Boyles Jr Jack Cavill P. Chaichana	Leeker
3/7/1973	20185 55-4524	Near Bon Hong Sa	Air Amer	Destroyed by impact and fire. Driver was a Tuskee Airman.	James Ackley Clarence Driver Chudchai Chewcherngsuk Kenekeo Narissack	Leeker
5/13/1974	55-4531	6.5km s of Tay Ninh	Air Amer	Struck by hostile fire (SA7 Missile)l Forced landing carried out in hostile area; airplane was abandoned. On way to SGN		Leeker
7/27/1974	57-6294	9km S of Moc Hoa	Air Amer	Cargo mission. Had delivered rice to refugees at Phnom Penh and was returning to Saigon when struck by Strella surface to air missile	4 Chinese crew + V. L. Lee, Jr. an Air Amer employee	Leeker
1/3/1975	54-625	9km s of nha trang	Air Amer	Dalat/Cam-Ly to Nha Trang; shot down by SA-7 missile; wreckage found 4 d later by AA Bell 204B	3 China Airline employees + 6 pax	Leeker