| Date: 18 October 1966 |
| Aircraft type: HU-16B Albatross |
| Serial Number: 51-7145 |
| Military Unit: 37 ARRS, 3 ARRG |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Da Nang |
| Name(s): |
| Maj Ralph Harold Angstadt (KIA) |
| 1Lt John Henry Sotheron Long (KIA) |
| Maj Inzar William Rackley (KIA) |
| TSgt Robert Laverne Hill (KIA) |
| SSgt Lawrence Clark (KIA) |
| SSgt John Reginald Shoneck (KIA) |
| A2C Steven Harold Adams (KIA) |
| An Albatross amphibian took off from Da Nang in poor weather for a patrol over the Gulf of Tonkin. Using the call sign Crown Bravo, a name that was assigned to the afternoon patrol of each day, the aircraft encountered worsening weather and failed to make a routine radio report. As soon as the weather cleared enough a second Albatross left Da Nang to search for Maj Angstadt’s aircraft. The Albatross was joined by Navy ships and aircraft but no trace of the aircraft or its crew was ever found. The aircraft’s last known position was about 40 miles off Dong Hoi and it was suspected that the aircraft was lost due to extreme weather rather than enemy action. SSgt Shoneck was a HH-43 flight mechanic from the 38 ARRS who had probably just gone along on the patrol for air experience. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.