[Planebeach]

Just found this web page on the net WOW, thats just horrendous. A DHC Caribou hit directly by friendly 155mm howitzer. May they rest in peace.

Friendly FireThis haunting photograph, which graced every Caribou briefing room, was a grim reminder that the Viet Cong and the NVA were not the only problem for pilots in Vietnam. This incident occurred in August of 1967 when the Caribou (tail number 62-4161) flew into the line of fire of a 155mm howitzer. This was early in the transition of the Caribou from the Army to the Air Force and highlighted the need for far better coordination amongst the services.


This photo is from book of photographs by combat photographers called Requiem. The photo credit is as follows:
HIROMICHI MINE
Ha Phan (sic), Vietnam, 1967
A U.S. twin-engine transport Caribou crashes after being hit by American artillery near Duc Pho on August 3, 1967. U.S. artillery accidentally shot down the ammunition-laden plane, which crossed a firing zone while trying to land at the U.S. Special Forces camp. All three crewman died in the crash.



This is the version of the photo that was posted in the Caribou briefing rooms. Many thanks to Tom Adams for the loan of an original copy for scanning. By matching up the date of the incident with those in the Honor Roll, it can be surmised that this was aircraft number 62-4161 from the 459th.

[OldCorpsEd]

That should not have happened. In Vietnam, when artillery was engaged in fire missions, ground coordination would issue a "Save a Plane", a broadcast throughout the whole net, so that aircraft would know there was firing going on. Aircraft transiting the line of fire of artillery would call for and get confirmation of a "check fire" until they're out of the field of fire.

In this case, because the aircraft was on final, the fault was entirely with the ground - the artillery battery.

[Berkut76]

Same thing happened during the recent Israeli-Hezbollah war. An Apache Longbow was "clipped" by MLRS round.

It's war and probability of improbable happening goes straight through the roof due to shear number of actions taken by a lot of individuals concentrated in a relatively small area.

Regards,

Sergey

[mustangdriver]

That is tragic. I have never seen that pic. before.

[First Sgt]

There are just some things that leave you at a loss for words...how can anyone adequately express the tragedy shown in this photo?

[Tyler109]

I couldn't imagine how the guy firing the howitzer had to feel. That's truely a shame and I hope these incidents are a thing of the past...

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Tyler109

I couldn't imagine how the guy firing the howitzer had to feel. That's truely a shame and I hope these incidents are a thing of the past...

No kidding....That would give me nightmares to live with that thought.
I remember as a kid during the war i watched CBS news after a family dinner and see all the horror of that war right on TV and it scared me a little to tell you the truth.
Being a USMC brat i was afraid i won't see my father again...God bless i still have him today and very thankfull for it too.
JP