C123 crash 29 November 1970

Newberry, Grayson Henry
Air Force Staff sergeant

Grayson Henry Newberry, age 25, from Macon, Georgia, Bibb county.

Parents: Mrs. Gordon Bennett
Spouse: Linda Diane Lancaster

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, Macon News (1971)

Moyer, Cecil Gerald Jr.
Air Force Captain

Cecil Gerald Jr. Moyer, age 25, from Greenville, Pennsylvania, Mercer county.

Spouse: Sally (Rhimer)
Children: Keith Albert Moyer, 2

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Greenville High (1963), Thiel College (1967)

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

Kollenberg, Charles Louis
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Charles Louis Kollenberg, age 24, from Houston, Texas, Harris county.

Parents: Conrad H. Kollenberg

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, Baytown Sun (1970)

Johnson, Robert Bruce
Air Force Technical sergeant

Robert Bruce Johnson, age 34, from Monroe, Michigan, Monroe county.

Parents: Hughie H. Johnson
Spouse: Married
Children: Five children

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, Associated Press (1970)

Jacques, Joseph Arthur
Army Private 1st class

Joseph Arthur Jacques, age 21, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe 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, UPI (1970), Pensacola News (1970)

Hogan, Billy Jack Jr.
Air Force Sergeant

Billy Jack Jr. Hogan, age 21, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Cape Girardeau county.

Parents: Helen J. Hogan

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, UPI (1970), Pensacola News (1970)

Guck, Ralph Stephen
Air Force Staff sergeant

Ralph Stephen Guck, age 27, from Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, Otter Tail county.

Spouse: Dianne (Kirschenmann (married November 30, 1968)
Children: Edward Jerome

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Moorehead State College

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: Black Hills National

Source: National Archives, Cottonport Leader (1970), Pensacola News Journal (1970)

Gibbs, Jack Ronald
Army Sergeant

Jack Ronald Gibbs, age 22, from Clarksville, Tennessee, Montgomery county.

Parents: Frank B. and Freda S. Gibbs
Spouse: Mary Sue Gibbs
Children: Darrell Ronald Gibbs, 3 months

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Died in the crash of a military transport plane into a mountain.
Cemetery: Greenwood

Source: National Archives, Streator Daily Times (1970)

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