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3 fatalities

Aircraft Shot Down During Linebacker II Mission Over Hanoi (55-0061)

Bạch Mai, VietnamFlight

On December 21, 1972, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 55-0061) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Bạch Mai, Vietnam in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by enemy fire. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft on a Linebacker II mission was hit by an SA-2 missile over Hanoi, crashing in Bạch Mai. Three crew members died and three were taken prisoner.

Incident

An aircraft departed U-Tapao Naval Air Station in Thailand with six crew members aboard to participate in the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was struck by enemy fire from an SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The plane lost control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi.

Crew

The crew consisted of six members. Pilot Captain Peter James Giroux, co-pilot Captain Thomas Waring Bennett, navigator First Lieutenant Joseph Bernard Copack Jr., electronic warfare officer Captain Peter Paul Camerota, Lieutenant Colonel Gerald William Alley, and air gunner Master Sergeant Louis Edward LeBlanc Jr. Three crew members were killed: First Lieutenant Joseph Bernard Copack Jr., Captain Peter Paul Camerota, and Master Sergeant Louis Edward LeBlanc Jr. The other three—Captain Peter James Giroux, Captain Thomas Waring Bennett, and Lieutenant Colonel Gerald William Alley—were taken as prisoners of war.

Probable cause

Shot down by enemy fire.

Related events

Same operator

More Boeing B-52 Stratofortress safety records →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Dec 1972 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident near Bạch Mai, Vietnam?

An aircraft on a Linebacker II mission was hit by an SA-2 missile over Hanoi, crashing in Bạch Mai. Three crew members died and three were taken prisoner.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Dec 1972 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Dec 1972 involved a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, registration 55-0061, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Bạch Mai, Vietnam.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Shot down by enemy fire.

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