SA-2 missile strike destroys aircraft over North Vietnam

2 fatalities • Trùng Quán, Vietnam • Flight

A crewed mission during Operation Linebacker II was lost to a surface-to-air missile near Hanoi, resulting in two fatalities and four prisoners of war.

What happened

During the execution of the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, an aircraft departing from Andersen AFB in Guam was intercepted by enemy defenses. While traversing the airspace above the Hanoi region, the plane was struck by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The impact caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable, leading to a crash in the Trùng Quán district, situated northeast of Hanoi.

The flight was manned by a total of six crew members. The incident resulted in two fatalities and left four crew members to be taken as prisoners of war following the crash.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the destruction of the aircraft was the direct result of being shot down by enemy fire.

Probable cause

The aircraft was destroyed after being struck by a surface-to-air missile during combat operations.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1972-12-27 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident near Trùng Quán, Vietnam?

A crewed mission during Operation Linebacker II was lost to a surface-to-air missile near Hanoi, resulting in two fatalities and four prisoners of war.

Were there any fatalities in the 1972-12-27 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1972-12-27 involved a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, registration 56-0605, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Trùng Quán, Vietnam.

What was the probable cause of the accident?