U-Tapao - U-Tapao

On January 3, 1973 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 Gulf of Tonkin All Vietnam.

The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. While flying over Vinh in North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The captain decided to evacuate the target area but with two engines out of service, electric and hydraulic systems out, he ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The airplane crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin and all six crew members, wounded, were evacuated by the crew of a USAF HH-53 helicopter and USMC CH-46 helicopter. Crew: Lt Col Gerald Wickline, pilot, Cpt William "Bill" F. Milcarek, copilot, Cpt Myles McTernan, navigator, Maj Roger A. Klingbeil, radio navigator, Cpt William E. Fergason, EWO, T/Sgt Carlos S. Killgore, air gunner.

Aircraft reference details include registration 55-0056, MSN 464008, year of manufacture 1955.