What happened
During the Linebacker II mission, an aircraft operating under the call sign Straw 2 departed from Andersen AFB on Guam Island. The flight was carrying a total of six crew members as it proceeded toward targets in Vietnam.
While traversing the airspace over Hanoi, the aircraft sustained damage from an enemy SA-2 surface-to-air missile strike. Following the engagement, the pilot successfully navigated the plane away from the immediate combat zone with the intention of reaching Thailand.
As the flight progressed over Laos, the crew determined that the aircraft could no longer be safely operated. All six members of the crew performed an emergency bailout. Following the abandonment of the cockpit, the aircraft entered a steep descent and crashed in a remote location. Of the six individuals on board, five survivors were recorded, while one fatality occurred among the crew.
Findings
- The aircraft was intercepted and struck by enemy surface-to-air missile fire.