Incident Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress 55-0056,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 48309
 
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Date:Wednesday 3 January 1973
Time:
Type:Silhouette image of generic B52 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress
Owner/operator:307th SWg USAF
Registration: 55-0056
MSN: 464008
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea -   Vietnam
Phase: Combat
Nature:Military
Departure airport:U-Tapao (VTBU)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Hit by SA-2 SAM over Vinh, North Vietnam. Lost two engines, electrical & hydraulic systems. Flown out to sea crashed in South China Sea.

Crew:
Pilot/Commander:Lt Col Gerald Wickline USAF ejected & rescued by a USAF HH‑53.
Co-pilot:Capt William "Bill" F Milcarek USAF ejected survived rescued by a USAF HH‑53.
Nav:Capt Myles McTernan USAF ejection seat malfunctioned bailed out through an open hatch. Injured hitting aircraft structure on exit rescued by a MC helicopter several hours after other crew.
Rad/Nav:Maj Roger A Klingbeil ejected survived rescued from the Gulf of Tonkin by a USMC CH-46 off the USS INCHON.
EWO:Capt William E. Fergason USAF ejected survived rescued by a USAF HH‑53.
AG:T/SGT Carlos S Killgore USAF ejected survived rescued by a USAF HH‑53.

Sources:

Story of crash in Air Almanac Magazine:
Update another URL for Last Man story from the air Almanac: http://www.myservicepride.com/content/last-man/
Into Hostile Skies from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=into+hostile+skies&sprefix=into+hos%2Cdigital-text%2C377

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
07-Nov-2008 10:15 ASN archive Added
27-Oct-2009 00:59 JINX Updated
06-Jan-2012 02:02 retiredaviator Updated [Source, Narrative]
10-Jan-2012 10:18 Uli Elch Updated [Operator, Country, Departure airport, Source]
12-Feb-2012 03:27 Nepa Updated [Operator]
11-Feb-2016 20:38 Anon. Updated [Source, Narrative]
11-Apr-2018 05:45 Anon. Updated [Narrative]
23-Nov-2020 17:47 Anon. Updated [Operator, Operator]

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