7 fatalities

Spooky Gunship Shot Down During Support Mission (44-76534)

Hội An, VietnamFlight

On March 29, 1967, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 44-76534) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Hội An, Vietnam in flight. 7 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 Spooky gunship was shot down by enemy fire while supporting outposts, crashing in dense woods and killing all seven crew members.

Incident Overview

A Spooky gunship was shot down by enemy fire while conducting support missions to outposts. The aircraft crashed in a densely wooded area, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members on board.

Crew Members

The crew lost in the incident were:

  • Captain William Hadley Hosea
  • Captain Herbert Charles Rice
  • Captain John Bishop Cabana
  • Staff Sergeant John Larue Brim
  • Staff Sergeant James Lewis Fields
  • Technical Sergeant Guy Joseph Brungard
  • Airman First Class Robert Edwin Ruonavaara

Official Findings

The probable cause of the crash, as determined by official investigation, was that the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire.