Incident Overview
Date: Monday 14 March 1966
Aircraft Type: Grumman HU-16B Albatross
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 51-071
Location: off Haiphong –
ÿ Vietnam
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: HU-16B Albatross aircraft.HU-16B Albatross aircraft.
A HU-16B Albatross aircraft deployed to rescue two crew members of a downed McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom off Haiphong in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Albatross landed in the sea near the shoreline and was attacked by North Vietnamese boats, resulting in a mortar shell fire and subsequent flames, ultimately leading to the aircraft’s destruction.A HU-16B Albatross aircraft deployed to rescue two crew members of a downed McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom off Haiphong in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Albatross landed in the sea near the shoreline and was attacked by North Vietnamese boats, resulting in a mortar shell fire and subsequent flames, ultimately leading to the aircraft’s destruction.
Description
The HU-16B Albatross flying boat was deployed to rescue two crew members of a downed McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom off Haiphong in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Albatross landed in the sea close to the shoreline. It was quickly approached by several North Vietnamese boats. They began to open fire on the Albatross, finally firing a mortar shell. They flying boat burst into flames. The survivors were later rescued by Navy helicopters.
Source of Information
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857801156/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aviationsafetyne&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1857801156http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857801156/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aviationsafetyne&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1857801156Primary Cause
North Vietnamese attack and mortar shell fire.North Vietnamese attack and mortar shell fire.Share on:
