Incident
An aircraft engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam was struck by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile while overflying the Hanoi area. The crew decided to leave the target area and return to U-Tapao NAS for an emergency landing.
Crew Actions
As the air gunner was wounded, the captain refused to bail out. On approach, four engines were out of service on the same side, forcing the captain to initiate a go-around. During the go-around, control was lost.
Crash and Casualties
The airplane crashed near the airbase and was destroyed. Four crew members were killed while two others survived.
Crew List
- Cpt James Mack Turner, pilot, †
- 1st Lt Robert Joseph Hymel
- Maj Lawrence Jay Marshall, navigator, †
- Lt Col Donald Arrington Joyner, radio navigator, †
- Cpt Roy Tom Tabler, EWO, †
- T/Sgt Spencer L. Grippin, air gunner
(† denotes killed)