8 fatalities

Military Transport Aircraft Shot Down by Enemy Fire Over Vietnam (55-4549)

Phumi Dak Dam, CambodiaFlight

On October 24, 1964, a Fairchild C-123 Provider (registration 55-4549) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Phumi Dak Dam, Cambodia in flight. 8 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

On an ammunition supply mission, a U.S. military transport aircraft was hit by enemy fire over Vietnam, lost control, and crashed in southern Cambodia, killing all eight crew members. The aircraft was destroyed.

Incident Details

A U.S. military transport aircraft departed Nha Trang on an ammunition supply mission. While overflying Vietnam, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire. It went out of control and eventually crashed in an uninhabited area located in Phum Dak Dam, in southern Cambodia, near the border with Vietnam. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

Casualties

All eight crew members on board were killed. The crew, assigned to the 315th Troop Carrier Group, were:

  • Captain Edward Stephen Krukowski
  • 1st Lieutenant Valmore William Bourque
  • 1st Lieutenant Robert George Armstrong
  • Staff Sergeant Ernest Joseph Halvorson
  • Staff Sergeant Theodore Bert Phillips
  • Airman First Class Eugene Richardson
  • Staff Sergeant Lawrence Woods
  • Private First Class Charles Pierce Sparks

Probable Cause

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