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5 fatalities

Crew Member Survives After Aircraft Shot Down During Linebacker II Mission Over Hanoi (58-0169)

Kinh No, VietnamFlight

On December 20, 1972, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 58-0169) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Kinh No, Vietnam in flight. 5 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft participating in the Linebacker II mission was shot down by enemy fire over Hanoi, resulting in five crew members killed and one survivor. The aircraft departed Andersen AFB, Guam.

Incident

The airplane, operating under call sign Tan 03, departed Andersen Air Force Base on Guam Island as part of the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire, specifically an SA-2 surface-to-air missile, and subsequently crashed in Kinh No.

Crew

The six crew members on board were:

  • Captain Randall James Craddock, pilot
  • Captain George Barry Lockhart, copilot
  • First Lieutenant Charles Edward Darr, navigator
  • Major Bobby Alexander Kirby, radio navigator
  • Captain Ronald Dwight Perry, Electronic Warfare Officer
  • Master Sergeant James Leon Lollar, air gunner

One crew member survived the crash, while the other five were killed.

Probable Cause

Official findings determined the probable cause to be the aircraft being shot down by enemy fire.

Related events

Same operator

More Boeing B-52 Stratofortress safety records →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Dec 1972 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident near Kinh No, Vietnam?

An aircraft participating in the Linebacker II mission was shot down by enemy fire over Hanoi, resulting in five crew members killed and one survivor. The aircraft departed Andersen AFB, Guam.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Dec 1972 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Dec 1972 involved a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, registration 58-0169, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Kinh No, Vietnam.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Shot down by enemy fire

More accident analyses