What happened
During an afternoon patrol mission identified by the call sign Crown Bravo, a US Navy Albatross departed from Đà Nẵng to monitor the Gulf of Tonkin. The flight was conducted under deteriorating meteorological conditions. During the mission, the aircraft failed to transmit its scheduled radio report, leading to concerns regarding its status.
Following the loss of communication, a search and rescue mission was initiated using a second Albatross once visibility improved sufficiently for flight. Despite these efforts, no wreckage or evidence regarding the fate of the aircraft was recovered. The final recorded position of the aircraft was situated approximately 64 km from Đồng Hới.
Findings
Investigations into the disappearance concluded that the loss of the aircraft and its 7 crew members was likely the result of extreme weather conditions. While the mission occurred in a conflict zone, there was no evidence to suggest enemy action played a role in the disappearance.