What happened
During the Linebacker II operation in North Vietnam, an aircraft departed from U-Tapao NAS with a total of six crew members on board. While traversing the airspace above the Hanoi area, the plane was struck by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile. Following the engagement, the flight crew elected to abort the mission and attempt an emergency return to U-Tapao NAS.
During the transit, the air gunner sustained injuries. Despite the damage and the wounded crew member, the pilot chose not to eject from the aircraft. As the plane approached the airfield, the impact of the missile had caused all four engines on one side of the aircraft to cease functioning. During an attempt to perform a go-around, the pilot lost control of the plane. The aircraft subsequently crashed in the vicinity of the airbase and was completely destroyed. The accident resulted in four fatalities and two survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the incident concluded that the primary reason for the loss of the aircraft was that it was shot down by enemy fire.