Accident Details
After taking off from Nakhon Phanom Airfield in northeastern Thailand, the pilot of a C-123 transport aircraft attempted to snare a red flag mounted on top of a flagpole. On the second attempt, the left wing struck a house, and the aircraft crashed. The impact killed all three crew members and two Thai civilians on the ground.
Crew and Mission
The crew consisted of 1st Lt Raymond E. Doyle, 1st Lt Richard L. Hatlestad, and S/Sgt Stanley E. Truesdale, assigned to the 777th Troop Carrier Squadron, 464th Troop Carrier Wing. Nakhon Phanom Airfield, located close to the border with Laos, was still under construction at the time. It is possible that the C-123s were bringing in construction equipment or supplies.
Background
According to the source, "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson, this trick had been attempted before by other C-123 crews based in Thailand.