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Reconnaissance Aircraft Lost Near Đà Nẵng During Mission (43-49268)

A Rơh, VietnamFlight

On March 13, 1966, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 43-49268) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near A Rơh, Vietnam in flight. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It is believed the aircraft has been 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 reconnaissance aircraft with seven crew members disappeared shortly after takeoff from Đà Nẵng. It is believed the plane was shot down and crashed in the A Rơh region near the Laotian border. No trace of the aircraft or crew was ever found.

Mission and Disappearance

A crew of seven departed Đà Nẵng on a reconnaissance mission. Contact with the aircraft was lost several minutes after takeoff. It is believed the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and probably crashed in an isolated area in the region of A Rơh, near the Laotian border, approximately 80 kilometers southwest of Đà Nẵng.

Search and Fate

Despite search efforts, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crew

The crew members assigned to the mission were:

  • Captain Howard William Henninger
  • Captain Robert Edward Pasekoff
  • Captain Gerald Everett Olson
  • Staff Sergeant Marshall Irvin Pauley
  • Staff Sergeant Gene Edmond Davis
  • Technical Sergeant Edwin Everton Morgan
  • Sergeant Dean Arnold Duvall

Probable Cause

Official findings state that it is believed the aircraft has been shot down by enemy fire.

Related events

Same operator

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