Incident Overview
A crew conducting an aerial attack on a Viêt Cong camp at Xóm Rach Tàu, on the southern coast of South Vietnam, was struck by enemy fire while cruising at low altitude. The left engine and left wing caught fire. The crew decided to evacuate the area, but the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea several kilometers offshore.
Crew Members
The crew consisted of three members: Lieutenant Colonel Emmet Rucker, Major James L. Shanks, and Sergeant Herbert E. Schmidt. All three were killed in the accident.
Damage and Loss
The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the sea. The specific type and registration of the aircraft are not mentioned in the official findings.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the accident was caused by the aircraft being shot down by enemy fire.