Incident Overview
A military airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase to attack trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The aircraft carried 12 passengers and a crew of four. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, it was struck by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. Two crew members successfully parachuted to safety, but 14 occupants were killed.
Casualties
The following crew members were among those killed: Captain Harry Roy Lagerwall, Captain Stanley Neal Kroboth, Major Paul Oswald Meder, Major Francis Anthony Walsh, Captain Joel Ray Birch, Captain Thomas Trammell Hart, Captain Robert Leonel Liles, Second Lieutenant George Duncan MacDonald, First Lieutenant Delmar Ernest Dickens, Airman First Class Charles Frederick Fenter, Technical Sergeant Robert Thomas Elliott, Technical Sergeant James Ray Fuller, Technical Sergeant John Quitman Winningham, and Sergeant Richard Williams. Sergeant Carl E. Stevens and Airman First Class Rollie Keith Reaid survived.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the incident was determined as shot down by enemy fire.