Incident Overview
An aircraft engaged in a flare mission crashed in a huge explosion in the jungle over south Laos. All nine crew members were killed. The exact circumstances of the crash were not determined. It was suggested that the aircraft may have been shot down by enemy fire, but this possibility was not proven.
Crew
The following nine crew members were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash:
- Lt Col William Henderson Mason
- Cpt Thomas Barry Mitchell
- Maj Jerry Lee Chambers
- Cpt William Thomas McPhail
- S/Sgt Calvin Charles Glover
- Sgt Gary Pate
- A1C John Quincy Adam
- A1C Thomas Edward Knebel
- A1C Melvin Douglas Rash
Investigation
The investigation into the crash did not determine the exact cause. The possibility of the aircraft being brought down by enemy fire was considered, but evidence was insufficient to confirm this scenario.