56-0669

On December 20, 1972 at 12:00 AM, 56-0669 experienced a crash involving Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Laos All Laos.

The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 16.7%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration 56-0669, MSN 464040, year of manufacture 1956.