| Date: 10 February 1968 |
| Aircraft type: KC-130F Hercules |
| Serial Number: 149813 |
| Military Unit: VMGR-152, MAG-15 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Da Nang |
| Name(s): |
| CWO3 Henry Wildfang (Survived) |
| Maj Robert E White (Survived) |
| MSgt John D'Adamo, Jr. (KIA) |
| LCpl David Ralf Devik (KIA) |
| LCpl Jerry Wayne Ferren (DOW) |
| Cpl Stan Rank (Survived) |
| Lt Col Carl Elving Peterson (KIA) |
| GySgt Waclaw Jozef Maczulski (DOW) |
| Brown William Leo SSgt (KIA) |
| SSgt George Wilcox Walbridge (DOW) |
| PFC Reggie Lee Vance (DOW) |
| One of the main reasons that Khe Sanh was resisting the siege so successfully was its resupply by air. This became particularly important when 1,500 tons (representing 98 per cent of the base’s ammunition supply) was hit and detonated by enemy rockets and artillery on the first day of the siege. Much of the resupply was performed by USAF C-123s and C-130s and the Marine Corp’s own KC-130s. Normally a detachment of four aircraft from VMGR-152 was based at Da Nang for transport and air-to-air refuelling duties. Prior to 10 February seven C-130s had been hit and damaged on resupply missions into Khe Sanh. The first transport aircraft lost during the siege was a KC-130 that was hit in the cockpit and fuselage several times by .50 calibre gunfire as it approached the airfield on the 10th. The aircraft was carrying a load of flamethrowers and several large rubber bladders full of jet fuel for the Marine’s turbine-engined helicopters. The No 3 engine caught fire and a fuel bladder was ruptured and trailed burning fuel. Despite extensive smoke and flames the aircraft touched down normally but then burst into flames as the fuel bladders exploded. The pilot and co-pilot escaped through the cockpit windows after they turned the aircraft off the runway and firefighters rescued another occupant before fire consumed the aircraft. Eight of the 11 men on board the aircraft were killed and LCpl Ferren died of his injuries on 1 March. One of the passengers who was killed was Col C E Peterson from the 1st MAW headquarters. Two days after this incident the Seventh Air Force prohibited landings by C-130s at Khe Sanh although the prohibition was lifted briefly towards the end of the month. Henry Wildfang was awarded his fifth DFC for his skill in landing the aircraft at Khe Sanh. |
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