- Aircraft losses of the Vietnam War
There were a great many aircraft losses during the
Vietnam War . Hundreds of U.S. fixed-wing aircraft were lost to ground fire of antiaircraft artillery (AAA),surface-to-air missile s (SAMs), and fighterinterceptor s (MiG )s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas ofSoutheast Asia were to AAA. TheRoyal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did theRepublic of Vietnam . Among fixed-wing aircraft, more F-4 Phantoms were lost than any other type in service with any nation. A total of 761 of all variants were destroyed, 605 in combat. Additionally, accidental losses (such as in the case of the SR-71s listed) extracted an additional toll by themselves and are included in the lists below.United States aircraft
United States Air Force
All told, the U.S. Air Force flew 5.25 million sorties over South Vietnam, North Vietnam,northern and southern Laos, and Cambodia, losing 2,251 aircraft, 1,737 because of hostile action and 514 for operational reasons. 110 of the losses were helicopters and the rest fixed-wing. A ratio of roughly 0.4 losses per 1,000 sorties compared favorably with a 2.0 rate in Korea and the 9.7 figure during World War II. cite web | last =Schlight | first =John | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = https://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/a_war_too_long.pdf | title = A War too Long: The USAF in Southeast Asia 1961-1975| format = | work = | publisher = Air Force History and Museums Programs| accessdate = 20 Feb | accessyear = 2007 Page 103]
Sources for USAF figures: :USAF Operations Report, Nov. 30, 1973 cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.afa.org/magazine/sept2004/0904vietnam.pdf| title = Vietnam War Almanac| format = | work = | publisher = AIR FORCE Magazine (Sept 2004)| accessdate = 7 Feb | accessyear = 2007] : Campbell, John M. and Hill, Michael. "Roll Call: Thud". Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1996. ISBN 0-7643-0062-8.: Hobson, Chris." Vietnam Air Losses, USAF, USN, USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961–1973". North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-1156.
USAF fixed-wing
*
A-1 Skyraider -- --191 total, 150 in combat:–First loss A-1E 52-132465 (1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th TG) shot down during the night ofAugust 28 -29, 1964 nearBien Hoa , SVN:–Final loss A-1H 52-139738 (1st Special Operations Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing) which was shot downSeptember 28 ,1972 (pilot was rescued by an Air America helicopter).* A-7D Corsair II-- --6 total, 4 combat:–First loss 71-0310 (353d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th TFW) on
December 2 ,1972 shot down on a CSAR mission in Laos (Capt Anthony Shine KIA).:–71-0312 (353d TFS) mid-air collision with an FACO-1 Bird Dog inLaos onDecember 24 ,1972 , (Capt Charles Riess PoW):-71-0316 (355th TFS) non-combat crash inThailand onJanuary 11 ,1973 (Pilot Rescued):-70-0949 (354th TFW) shot down Laos onFebruary 17 ,1973 (Maj J J Gallagher Rescued):-71-0305 (3rd TFS, 388th TFW) shot down inCambodia onMay 4 ,1973 (1Lt T L Dickens Rescued):-Final loss 70-0945 (354th TFW) shot down in Cambodia onMay 25 ,1973 (Capt Jeremiah Costello KIA)*
A-26 Invader -- --22 total:–First loss B-26B 44-35530 (Detachment 2A, 1st ACG) shot down in IV CTZ on the night ofNovember 4 -5, 1962 killing the 3 crew. :–Final loss A-26A 64-17646 (609th SOS, 56th SOW) lost over Laos on the night ofJuly 7 -8, 1969 killing both crew.*
A-37 Dragonfly -- --22 total:–First loss 1967; final loss 1972*
AC-47 Spooky -- --19 total, 17 in combat:–First loss 1965, final loss 1969* AC-119 Shadow/Stinger-- --6 total, 2 in combat:–First loss AC-119G 52-5907 (Det.1, 17th SOS, 14th SOW) which crashed on take-off from
Tan Son Nhut , SVN onOctober 11 ,1969 killing 6 of the 10 crew.:–Final loss 1971* AC-130 Spectre-- --6 total, all combat. :–First loss AC-130A 54-1629 (16th SOS, 8th TFW) hit by 37mm AAA over Laos and crash-landed at
Ubon RTAFB , 2 crewmen died (one died of injuries before reaching Ubon) but 11 others survived. :–Final loss 1972*
B-52 Stratofortress -- --31 total, 17 in combat:-First losses non-combat mid-air collision 2 B-52F 57-0047 and 57-0179 (441st Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Wing),June 18 ,1965 , South China Sea during air refueling orbit, 8 of 12 crew killed:-Final loss B-52D 55-0056 (307th Bomb Wing Provisional) to SAMJanuary 4 ,1973 , crew rescued from Gulf of Tonkin*
B-57 Canberra -- --56 total, 38 in combat:-First loss 1964, final loss 1970*
C-5A Galaxy -- --1 total, 0 in combat. Crashed while attempting emergency landing atTan Son Nhut AB 4 April 1975, as part ofOperation Babylift .*
C-7 Caribou -- --20 total:-First lost C-7B 62-4161 (459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483d Tactical Airlift Wing) which was hit by a US 155mm shell onAugust 3 ,1967 in SVN killing the 3 crew. :-Final loss was C-7B 62-12584 (483d TAW) which crashed in SVN, all 4 crew survived.*
C-47 Skytrain -- --21 total :-A C-47 was very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY atVientiane, Laos which was shot down by thePathet Lao onMarch 23 ,1961 killing 7 of the 8 crew. The sole survivor, US Army Maj. Lawrence Bailey was captured and held until August 1962. :-Final loss EC-47Q 43-48636 (361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 56th SOW) shot down in Laos on the night of 04/5February 4 -5, 1973 killing all 8 crew.*
C-123 Provider -- --53 total, 21 in combat :-First loss was C-123B 56-4370 attached to the 464th TAW which came down on anOperation Ranch Hand (defoliation) training flight between Bien Hoa and Vung Tau, SVN onFebruary 2 ,1962 :-Final loss 1971*
C-130 Hercules -- --55 total, 34 in combat:-First loss was C-130A 57-0475 (817th Troop Carrier Squadron, 6315th Operations Group) onApril 24 ,1965 , aBlind Bat flareship that crashed into high ground nearKorat Royal Thai Air Force Base ,Thailand , attempting to land in bad weather with a heavy load, two engine failures, and low fuel, killing all six crew members. This was the 14th recorded loss of a C-130 to all causes.:-Final loss C-130E 72-1297 (314th TAW) destroyed by rocket fire at Tan Son Nhut AB onApril 28 ,1975 .*
C-141 Starlifter -- --2 total, 0 combat :-C-141A 65-9407 (62d Military Airlift Wing) destroyed in a night runway collision with a USMC A-6 atDanang , SVN onMarch 23 ,1967 killing 5 of the 6 crew:-C-141A 66-0127 (4th Military Airlift Squadron, 62d MAW) crashed soon after take-off fromCam Ranh Bay , SVN onApril 13 ,1967 killing 6 of the 8 crew.*
E/RB-66 Destroyer --14 total :-First loss was RB-66B 53-0452 (Det 1, 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 6250th Combat Support Group) which crashedOctober 22 -23, 1965 west ofPleiku , SVN killing the crew.:-Final loss EB-66B 42nd TEWS, 388th TFS lost to engine failure on Dec. 23, 1972 during Operation Linebacker II. Crew of 3 KIA.* EC-121 BatCat-- --2 total, 0 combat :-EC-121R 67-24193 (554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d RW) crashed
April 25 ,1969 on take-off in a thunderstorm fromKorat RTAFB , killing all 18 crew.:-EC-121R 67-21495 (554th RS) crashed on approach to Korat RTAFB onSeptember 6 ,1969 , 4 of the 16 were killed*
F-4 Phantom II -- --445 total, 382 in combat :-First loss was non-combat, F-4C 64-0674 (45TH TFS, 15th TFW) which ran out of fuel after strike in SVN onJune 9 ,1965 ; first combat loss F-4C 64-0685 (45th TFS, 15th TFW) shot down Ta Chan, NW NVN onJune 20 ,1965 . 9 of the losses were parked aircraft struck by rockets.:-Final loss 1973*
F-5 Freedom Fighter -- --9 total:-First loss 1965, final loss 1967*
F-100 Super Sabre -- --243 total, 198 in combat:-First loss 1964, final loss 1971*
F-102 Delta Dagger -- --14 total, 7 combat:-First loss 1964, final loss 1967. 4 of the combat losses were parked aircraft*
F-104 Starfighter -- --14 total, 9 combat:-First loss 1965, final loss 1967* F-105D Thunderchief-- --335 total, 283 in combat:-First loss 62-4371 (36th TFS, 6441st TFW) written off from battle damage over Laos
August 14 ,1964 , at Korat, Thailand:-Final loss 61-0153 (44th TFS, 355th TFW) shot down LaosSeptember 23 ,1970 , pilot Capt. J. W. Newhouse rescued* -- --47 total, 37 combat:-First loss EF-105F 63-8286 (13th TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by AAA RP-6
July 6 ,1966 , Maj. Roosevelt Hestle and Capt. Charles Morgan KIA:-Last loss F-105G 63-8359 (Det.1 561st TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by SAMNovember 16 ,1972 , RP-3, crew rescued* F-111A "Aardvark"-- --11 total, 6 in combat:-First loss mission-related TFR failure, 66-0022 (428th TFS 474th TFW, Project Combat Lancer),
March 28 ,1968 , Maj. H.E. Mccann and Capt. D.L. Graham MIA:-Final loss 67-0111 (474th TFW) mid-air collision over Cambodia,June 16 ,1973 , both crewmen rescued*
HU-16 Albatross -- --4 total, 2 combat:-51-5287 to unk causeJune 19 ,1965 :-51-0058 to unk causeJuly 3 ,1965 :-51-0071 (33d ARRS) shot down by AAAMarch 14 ,1966 , two crew killed:-51-7145 (37th ARRS) shot downOctober 18 ,1966 , 7 crew killed* KB-50 Superfortress tanker-- --1 total, 0 combat :-Only loss KB-50J 48-0065 (421st Air Refueling Squadron Detachment) at
Takhli RTAFB which crashed in Thailand onOctober 14 ,1964 , all 6 crew survived.*
KC-135 Stratotanker -- --3 total, 0 combat:-Two crashes in 1968, one 1969, all operational non-combat*
O-1 Bird Dog -- --172 total, 122 in combat:-First loss 1963, final loss 1972*
O-2 Skymaster -- --104 total, 82 in combat:-First loss 1967, final loss 1972*
OV-10 Bronco -- --63 total, 47 in combat:First loss 1968, final loss 1973* QU-22 Pave Eagle-- --8 lost, 7 in combat :-First loss YQU-22A 68-10531 (554th RS, 553d RW) crashed due to engine failure on
June 11 ,1969 :-Final loss QU-22B 70-1546 (554th RS) onAugust 25 ,1972 , pilot killed.*
RF-4C Phantom II -- --83 total, 76 in combat:-First loss 1966, final loss 1972*
RF-101 Voodoo -- --39 total, 33 in combat:-First loss 1964, final loss 1968* SR-71A Blackbird-- --2 total, 0 combat:-64-17969 (Det OL-8, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) suffered engine failure over Thailand on
May 10 ,1970 , both crew ejected safely :-64-17978 (Det OL-KA, 9th SRW) crashed on landing atKadena, Okinawa onJuly 20 ,1972 , both crewmen survived*
T-28 Trojan -- --23 total:-First loss 1962, final loss 1968* U-2C "Dragon Lady"-- --1 total, 0 combat :-Only loss 56-6690 (349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 100th SRW) which crashed on
October 8 ,1966 near Bien Hoa, SVN, Maj. Leo J Stewart ejected and was rescued.* U-3B Blue Canoe-- --1 total, 1 combat :-Only loss 60-6058, destroyed on the ground during a VC attack on Tan Son Nhut, SVN on
June 14 ,1968 .* U-6A Beaver-- --1 total, 0 combat: Only loss 51-15565 (432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing) which crashed in Thailand
December 28 ,1966 , both crewmembers survived.* U-10D Courier-- --1 total, 1 combat :-63-13102 (5th SOS, 14th SOW) shot down
August 14 ,1969 near Bien Hoa killing 1/Lt Roger Brown.USAF rotary-wing
* CH/HH-3 Jolly Green Giant-- --34 total, 25 in combat:-First loss CH-3E 63-9685 (38th ARRS) to AAA North Vietnam on
November 6 ,1965 , three crew POW, one rescued:-Last loss HH-3E 65-12785 (40th ARRS)November 21 ,1970 , combat-assaulted inside Son Tay POW camp (Operation Ivory Coast ) and deliberately destroyed by U.S. Special Forces* HH-43B Pedro-- --13 lost, 8 in combat:-First loss 63-9713 (38th ARRS) damaged by fire
June 2 ,1965 , crew rescued and aircraft destroyed to prevent its capture:-Final loss 60-0282 (38th ARRS) crashed Cam Ranh BayAugust 7 ,1969 , crew rescued* CH/HH-53 Super Jolly-- --27 total, 17 in combat:-First loss HH-53C 66-14430 (40th ARRS) in Laos, damaged by gunfire
January 18 ,1969 crew rescued and aircraft destroyed by bombing to prevent capture:-Last losses four CH-53's (68-10925, -10926, -10927, 70-1627 all from 21st SOS, 56th SOW) to AAA onMay 15 ,1975 , Koh Tang, Kampuchea, (Mayaguez incident final aircraft losses of Vietnam War)*
UH-1 Iroquois -- --36 totalUnited States Navy
Twenty-one aircraft carriers conducted 86 war cruises and operated 9,178 total days on the line in the
Gulf of Tonkin . 530 aircraft were lost in combat and 329 more in operational accidents, causing the deaths of 377 naval aviators, with 64 others reported missing and 179 takenprisoner-of-war .Sources for USN carrier-based figures:
*Francillon, René. "Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club: US Carrier Operations off Vietnam", Naval Institute Press (1988) ISBN 0-87021-696-1USN fixed-wing carrier-based
*
A-1 Skyraider --65 total, 48 in combat :-First loss A-1H 139760 (VA-45, USS "Constellation"), to AAAAugust 5 ,1964 , Lt.j.g. R. C. Sather KIA:-Final loss A-1H 134499 (VA-25, USS "Coral Sea"), to MIGFebruary 14 ,1968 , Lt.j.g. J. P. Dunn MIA*
A-3 Skywarrior --7 total, 2 in combat:-First loss A-3B 142250 (VAH-4, USS "Hancock"), non-combatDecember 22 ,1964 , 3 rescued, 1 killed:-Final loss A-3B 144627 (VAH-4, USS "Kitty Hawk"), AAAMarch 8 ,1967 , 3 crew KIA*
A-4 Skyhawk --282 total, 195 in combat:-First loss A-4C 149578 (VA-144, USS "Constellation"), AAAAugust 5 ,1964 , Lt.j.g. Everett Alvarez POW (second longest held prisoner):-Final loss A-4F 155021 (VA-212, USS "Hancock"), AAASeptember 6 ,1972 , pilot rescued*
A-6 Intruder --62 total, 51 in combat:-First loss A-6A 151584 (VA-75, USS "Independence"), own bomb detonation LaosJuly 14 ,1965 , crew rescued:-Final loss A-6A 157007 (VA-35, USS "America"), AAA South VietnamJanuary 24 ,1973 , crew rescued*
A-7 Corsair --100 total, 55 in combat:-First loss A-7A 153239 (VA-147, USS "Ranger"), SAM North VietnamDecember 22 ,1967 , LCdr J.M. Hickerson POW:-Final loss A-7E 156837 (VA-147, USS "Constellation"), non-combatJanuary 29 ,1973 , pilot missing*
C-1 Trader --4 total, 0 in combat:-C-1A 146047 (VR-21, USS "Independence"), non-combatAugust 30 ,1965 , 7 passengers and crew rescued:-C-1A 136784 (VR-21, USS "Independence"), non-combatSeptember 12 ,1965 , 9 passengers and crew rescued, 1 killed:-C-1A 146054 (Carrier Air Wing 11, "Kitty Hawk"), non-combatJanuary 16 ,1968 , 7 passengers and crew rescued, 3 killed*
C-2 Greyhound --1 total, 0 in combat:-Sole loss C-2A 155120 (VRC-50, USS "Ranger"), Gulf of Tonkin crashDecember 15 ,1970 , 9 passengers and crew killed*
E-1 Tracer --3 total, 0 in combat:-First loss E-1B 148918 (VAW-12, USS "Independence"), non-combatSeptember 22 ,1965 , crew rescued:-Final loss E-1B 148132 (VAW-111, USS "Oriskany"), non-combatOctober 8 ,1967 , 5 crew killed*
E-2 Hawkeye --2 total, 0 in combat:-E-2A 151711 (VAW-116, USS "Coral Sea"),April 8 ,1970 , 5 killed :-E-2B 151719 (VAW-115, USS "Midway"),June 11 ,1971 , 5 missing* EKA-3 Skywarrior-- --2 lost, 0 in combat:-EKA-3B 142400 (VAQ-132, USS "America"), non-combat
July 4 ,1970 , 3 rescued:-EKA-3B 142634 (VAQ-130, USS "Ranger"), non-combatJanuary 21 ,1973 , 3 killed* EA-1 Skyraider --4 total, 1 in combat:-First loss EA-1E 139603 (VAW-111, USS "Yorktown"), non-combat
April 15 ,1965 , crew rescued:-Final loss EA-1F 132543 (VAW-13, USS "Franklin D Roosevelt"), non-combatSeptember 10 ,1966 , crew rescued*
F-4 Phantom --138 total, 75 in combat:-First loss F-4B 151412 (VA-142, USS "Constellation"), non-combatNovember 13 ,1964 , crew rescued:-Last combat loss (also last USN combat loss of war) F-4J 155768 (VF-143, USS "Enterprise"), AAA South VietnamJanuary 27 ,1973 , Cdr H.H. Hall and Lcdr P.A. Keintzer POW:-Final loss F-4J 158361 (VF-21, USS "Ranger"), non-combatJanuary 29 ,1973 , crew killed*
F-8 Crusader --118 total, 57 in combat :-First loss F-8D (VF-111, USS "Kitty Hawk"), to AAA over LaosJune 7 ,1964 , LCdr C.D. Lynn rescued:-Final loss non-combat F-8J 150887 (VF-191, USS "Oriskany")November 26 ,1972 , pilot rescued* KA-3 Skywarrior- --2 lost, 0 in combat:-KA-3B 142658 (VAH-4, USS "Oriskany"), non-combat
July 28 ,1967 , 1 rescued, 2 killed:-KA-3B 138943 (VAH-10, USS "Coral Sea"), non-combatFebruary 17 ,1969 , 3 killed* RA-5 Vigilante --27 total, 18 in combat:-First loss RA-5C 149306 (RVAH-5, USS "Ranger"), non-combat
December 9 ,1965 , 2 killed:-Final loss RA-5C 156633 (RVAH-13, USS "Enterprise"), to MIG North VietnamDecember 28 ,1972 , Lcdr A.H. Agnew POW, Lt. M.F. Haifley KIA* RF-8 Crusader --29 total, 19 in combat:-First loss RF-8A (Det. C VFP-63, USS "Kitty Hawk"),
June 6 ,1964 , to AAA in Laos, Lt. C. F. Klusmann POW:-Final loss RF-8G 144608 (VFP-63, USS "Oriskany"), non-combatDecember 13 ,1972 , pilot rescued*
S-2 Tracker --4 total, 2 in combat:-First loss S-2D 149252 (VS-35, USS "Hornet"), unk combat lossJanuary 21 ,1966 , 4 crew MIA:-S-2E 152351 (VS-21, USS "Kearsarge", combat lossOctober 11 ,1966 , 4 KIA:-S-2E (VS-23, USS "Yorktown"), unk combat lossMarch 17 ,1968 , 4 crew KIA:-Final loss US-2C 133371 (VC-5, USS "Hornet"), non-combatSeptember 27 ,1967 , crew rescuedUSN fixed-wing shore-based
*
C-47 Skytrain (1)* OV-10 Bronco (7)
*
P-2 Neptune (4)*
P-3 Orion (2)USN rotary-wing
* SH-2/UH-2 Sea Sprite-- --12 lost, 0 in combat:-First loss UH-2A 149751 (HC-1, USS "Hancock"), non-combat
January 10 ,1966 , 4 rescued:-Final loss UH-2C 149767 (HC-1, USS "Bon Homme Richard"), non-combatAugust 10 ,1969 , 4 rescued* SH-3 Sea King-- --20 lost, 8 in combat:-First loss SH-3A 148993 (HS-2, USS "Hornet"), AAA North Vietnam
November 13 ,1965 , crew of 4 rescued:-Final loss SH-3D 156494 (HS-7, USS "Saratoga"), non-combatDecember 31 ,1972 , crew rescuedUnited States Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps aircraft lost in combat included 193 fixed-wing and 270 rotary wing aircraft.
USMC fixed-wing
*
A-4 Skyhawk --81 lost
*A-6 Intruder --25 lost
*C-117 Skytrain --2 lost
*EA-6 Prowler --2 lost
*EF-10 Skynight --5 lost
*F-4 Phantom --95 lost, 72 combat
*F-8 Crusader --21 lost
*KC-130 Hercules --4 lost
*O-1 Bird Dog --7 lost
*OV-10 Bronco --10 lost
*RF-4 Phantom --4 lost
* RF-8 Crusader --1 lost
*TA-4 Skyhawk --10 lost
*TF-9 Cougar --1 lostSource for F-4 losses is [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/f4_39.html Phantom with U.S. Marine Corps (Joe Baugher)] , others are unsourced
USMC rotary-wing
United States Army
USA fixed-wing
OV-1A Mohawk--- 3 lostOV-1B Mohawk--- 2 lost0-1 Bird Dog--- 297 lost
USA rotary-wing
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.