U-Tapao - U-Tapao

On December 20, 1972 at 12:00 AM, U-Tapao - U-Tapao experienced a crash involving Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Khon Kaen Khon Kaen (<U+0E02><U+0E2D><U+0E19><U+0E41><U+0E01><U+0E48><U+0E19>).

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, 4 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

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

Aircraft reference details include registration 56-0622, MSN 17305, year of manufacture 1956.