4 fatalities

U.S. Air Force Aircraft Shot Down Over Hanoi During Linebacker II Mission (58-0198)

Kinh No, VietnamFlight

On December 20, 1972, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 58-0198) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Kinh No, Vietnam in flight. 4 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A U.S. Air Force aircraft with seven crew members departed Andersen AFB for a Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. It was hit by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile over Hanoi and crashed in Kinh No, killing four and capturing three.

Departure and Mission

The aircraft departed Andersen Air Force Base on Guam Island with seven crew members on board. The crew was participating in the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam.

Incident Over Hanoi

While flying over Hanoi, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire, specifically an SA-2 surface-to-air missile. Following the hit, the aircraft crashed in Kinh No.

Casualties and Crew Status

Four crew members were killed in the incident. The remaining three crew members were taken as prisoners of war (POWs).

Crew Members

The crew consisted of the following individuals:

  • Col James Yoshikazu Nagahiro, pilot
  • Cpt Donovan Keith Walters, copilot
  • † Lt Col Keith Russell Heggen
  • Cpt Lynn Richard Beens, navigator
  • Cpt Robert Ray Lynn, EWO
  • † Maj Edward Harvey Johnson, radio navigator
  • † A1C Charles "Chuck" James Bebus, air gunner

Note: The symbol † indicates crew members who were killed.

Probable cause

Shot down by enemy fire.