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Aerial Attack Gunship Shot Down Near Pleiku (43-16159)

Pleiku, VietnamFlight

On May 5, 1968, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 43-16159) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Pleiku, 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 gunship conducting an aerial attack from Phu Cat was shot down by enemy fire near Pleiku, killing all seven crew members. The official probable cause was enemy fire.

Incident Overview A military gunship was engaged in an aerial attack mission originating from Phu Cat when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. All seven occupants aboard the aircraft were killed in the incident. The official investigation determined the probable cause to be enemy fire. ## Crew Members The following seven personnel were aboard the aircraft and were killed: - Lt Col Leslie Earl Harris - Maj Teddy James Tomchesson - Lt Barry Lynn Brown - Cpt Edward Chester Krawczyk - S/Sgt James Edgar Bowman - Sgt Douglas Joseph Cradeur - Sgt Roy Leo Lede ## Probable Cause The official findings identified the probable cause of the accident as the aircraft being shot down by enemy fire.

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