Incident Overview
At 12:05 on 18 May 1969, a United States Marine Corps KC-130F tanker departed Da Nang Air Base on a routine operational tanker mission. The aircraft proceeded to the Hue Phu Bai area for in-flight refueling. The tanker had deviated from its assigned track and was heading toward the ocean before turning southeast toward Da Nang. It then proceeded southbound over the Hue Phu Bai airfield area while refueling two USMC McDonnell F-4B Phantom fighter aircraft (registration 152270 and 151450).
Collision
All three aircraft were descending in a "tobogganing" maneuver while heading southbound along the South Vietnam coastline. Simultaneously, a separate USMC F-4B Phantom (registration 151001) was heading westbound toward the Hue Phu Bai military area. The two aircraft approached each other nearly head-on with a closing rate of approximately 700 knots true airspeed. The F-4B initially struck the KC-130F in the area of the number four engine and the starboard refueling pod. The radome of the F-4B cleared the propeller of the number four engine as the cockpit impacted the tanker. The single F-4B crashed and the pilot and radar intercept officer (RIO) died instantly. The KC-130F crashed into the sea.
Aftermath
One of the refueling F-4Bs (151450) was severely damaged by debris from the initial collision. It was plugged into the starboard drogue and was sprayed with fuel; apparently both engines ingested an undetermined amount of debris. The aircraft flipped uncontrollably to an inverted position while the drogue and a portion of the hose remained attached. Its engines could not sustain power, and the fighter crashed at sea. Both crew members successfully ejected and were recovered.
Damage to the Other Aircraft
The second refueling F-4B (152270) was plugged into the port refueling drogue and sustained limited damage: two small holes in the port aileron and a half-inch hole in the starboard wingtip. The pilot observed the spinning tanker and, when it became apparent he could render no further assistance, returned to Chu Lai Air Base without further incident.
Crew of the KC-130F
The KC-130F carried a crew of six: Maj Jimmie Dwayne Sells, Maj John Clarence Williamson, MGSgt Carroll Franklin Hersey, M/Sgt Edmond Chester Polenski, Sgt Robert Allen Bonebright, and Cpl James Allen Cox.