Tag: C123 crash 29 November 1970

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Podhajsky, Norbert Albert
Air Force Captain

Norbert Albert Podhajsky, age 27, from Toledo, Iowa, Tama county.

Parents: Albert Podhajsky
Spouse: Phyllis

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.

Source: National Archives, Chicago Tribune (1970), Waterloo Courier (1970)

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Young, James Bruce
Air Force Airman 1st class

James Bruce Young, age 23, from Grosse Pointe Farm, Michigan, Wayne county.

Parents: Henry S. Young Jr.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.

Source: National Archives. Pensacola News Journal (1970), Associated Press (1970)

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Watson, Harry Allen
Air Force Staff sergeant

Harry Allen Watson, age 36, from Indianapolis, Indiana, Marion county.

Spouse: Virginia Watson

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.

Source: National Archives. Pensacola News Journal (1970), Sacrament Bee (1970)

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Teschendorf, Ronnie Carl
Air Force Sergeant

Ronnie Carl Teschendorf, age 21, from Bloomington, Minnesota, Hennepin county.

Parents: Darl H. Teschendorf

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.

Source: National Archives, Winona Daily News (1970)

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Stubblefield, James Edward
Air Force Sergeant

James Edward Stubblefield, age 23, from Dearborn, Michigan, Wayne county.

Parents: Vivian Cole and James Stubblefield

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Edsel Ford High graduate

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds. James was returning to the U.S.

Source: National Archives, Detroit Free Press (1970)

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Starnes, James Cecil
Air Force Staff sergeant

James Cecil Starnes, age 31, from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Spouse: Jonnie
Children: James Vonzeli, 8; Paul, 5

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds. James was on his way home after one year in Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Gastonia Gazette (1970)

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Seay, Bobby Darel
Air Force sms

Bobby Darel Seay, age 35, from Waukegan, Illinois, Lake county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.

Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Pensacola News Journal (1970)

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Saxby, James Francis
Air Force 1st Lieutenant

James Francis Saxby, age 24, from Holcomb, New York, Ontario county.

Parents: James E. Saxby
Spouse: Susan (Haberstroh
Children: Jennifer

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Bloomfield Central High, LeMoyne Univeristy of Syracuse graduate

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.
Cemetery: Saint Bridget’s

Source: National Archives, Daily Messenger (1970)

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Polniak, Robert Joseph
Army Captain

Robert Joseph Polniak, age 24, from Buffalo, New York, Erie county.

Parents: Matthew J. Polniak
Spouse: Rose Mary

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.
Cemetery: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Source: National Archives, Honolulu Star Bulletin (1970)

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Caudill, Elmon C. II
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Elmon C. II Caudill, age 25, from Berea, Ohio, Cuyahoga county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.

Source: National Archives, Port Clinton News Herald (1970)