What happened
During a mission over the Vinh region of North Vietnam, an aircraft was struck by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The impact caused catastrophic damage to the plane, resulting in the loss of two engines as well as the failure of both the hydraulic and electrical systems.
Recognizing that the aircraft could no longer maintain controlled flight, the pilot initiated an evacuation of the target area. As the situation deteriorated, the captain ordered the crew to bail out of the plane. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin.
Following the crash, a rescue operation was conducted by US Air Force HH-53 and USMC CH-46 helicopters. All six crew members were successfully recovered from the area; however, all individuals involved sustained injuries during the incident.
Findings
The primary factor in the loss of the aircraft was the impact from an enemy surface-to-air missile.