No fatalities

1968-02-28: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (64-0522) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Sông Bé, Vietnam

Sông Bé, VietnamTakeoff (climb)

On February 28, 1968, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration 64-0522) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Sông Bé, Vietnam during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by enemy fire. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781239038Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was hit by enemy fire after takeoff, causing a wing fire. Despite being struck again while returning, the pilot landed safely with all 10 occupants uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Incident

Following departure from Sông Bé Airstrip, the aircraft encountered hostile fire during its initial climb. The enemy fire struck the airplane, igniting a fire in one of its wings. In response, the captain initiated a return to the airstrip with the intention of making a safe landing. While executing the return, the aircraft was hit by additional enemy firearms.

Aftermath

Despite the ongoing attacks, the pilot successfully landed the aircraft back at Sông Bé Airstrip. All ten occupants evacuated without injury. However, the fire that had started in the wing continued to spread, ultimately resulting in the total destruction of the aircraft by fire.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be: shot down by enemy fire.