2 fatalities

Quilt 3 Shot Down by Surface-to-Air Missile over Hanoi (57-6496)

Yên Viên, VietnamFlight

On December 20, 1972, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 57-6496) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Yên Viên, Vietnam in flight. 2 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, call sign Quilt 3, was shot down by an SA-2 missile over Hanoi during the Linebacker II mission. Two crew members were killed, and four were taken prisoner of war.

Incident

The aircraft, operating under call sign Quilt 3, departed Andersen Air Force Base on Guam Island with six crew members aboard. It was taking part in the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire in the form of an SA-2 surface-to-air missile and subsequently crashed in Yên Viên.

Crew

The crew consisted of pilot Captain Terry Mercer Geloneck, copilot First Lieutenant William Youl Arcuri, navigator First Lieutenant Michael Robert Martini, radio navigator Captain Warren R. Spencer, electronic warfare officer Captain Craig Alan Paul, and air gunner Staff Sergeant Roy Madden. Two crew members—Captain Craig Alan Paul and Staff Sergeant Roy Madden—were killed in the incident. The other four crew members were taken as prisoners of war.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be: shot down by enemy fire.