| Date: 25 January 1966 |
| Aircraft type: C-123B Provider |
| Serial Number: 54-0702 |
| Military Unit: probably 311 ACS, 315 ACG |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Da Nang |
| Name(s): |
| Capt Harry Richard Crumley (KIA) |
| Capt Edward Clarence Handly (KIA) |
| SSgt Leonard Williams (KIA) |
| SSgt Richard Duane Youtsey (KIA) |
| 42 US Army Troops (KIA) |
| January was a costly month for the USAF’s transport fleet in Southeast Asia. The seventh transport to be lost during January was a Provider that crashed into a mountain soon after taking off from An Khe on the short flight to Bong Son near the coast. In addition to the crew of four the aircraft was carrying 42 troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division who were being taken to Bong Son to take part in Operation Masher, the first division-size search and destroy mission of the war. Ten minutes after taking off the aircraft climbed into low cloud and then crashed near Binh Khe killing all on board. A mechanical failure of No2 engine was thought to have precipitated the accident as the aircraft attempted to return to An Khe. By the time Masher (renamed White Wing) had concluded on 4 March the USAF had flown 1,100 airlift sorties in support of the operation. |
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