List of aircraft losses of the Vietnam War

There were a great many aircraft losses during the Vietnam War. Hundreds of U.S. fixed-wing aircraft were lost to ground fire in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and to an integrated air defense system in North Vietnam, consisting of antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors (MiG)s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA . The Royal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did the Republic of Vietnam.

Additionally, accidental losses (such as in the case of the SR-71s listed) extracted an additional toll by themselves and are not differentiated in the following list below. Please note that much of the list appears to be unsubstantiated by any given source in this wiki article.

United States aircraft

United States Air Force

• A-1 Skyraider-- --191 total, 150 in combat

–The 1st USAF loss was A-1E 52-132465 (1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th TG) shot down during the night of August 28-29, 1964 near Bien Hoa, SVN

–The final USAF loss was A-1H 52-139738 (1st Special Operations Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing) which was shot down September 28, 1972 (pilot was rescued by an Air America helicopter).

• A-7 Corsair II-- --6 total, 4 combat

–The 1st loss was A-7D 71-0310 (353d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th TFW) on December 2, 1972 whilst acting as escort for a CSAR mission in Laos (Capt Anthony Shine KIA).

–Also lost were 71-0312 (353d TFS) mid-air collision with an FAC O-1 Bird Dog in Laos on December 24, 1972, (Capt Charles Riess PoW); 71-0316 / (355th TFS) non-combat crash in Thailand on January 11, 1973 (Pilot Rescued); 70-0949 (354th TFW) shot down Laos on February 17, 1973 (Maj J J Gallagher Rescued) ; 71-0305 (3rd TFS, 388th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on May 4, 1973 (1/Lt T L Dickens Rescued); 70-0945 (354th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on May 25, 1973 (Capt Jeremiah Costello KIA)

• A-26 Invader-- --22 total

–First loss was B-26B 44-35530 (Detachment 2A, 1st ACG) shot down in IV CTZ on the night of November 4-5, 1962 killing the 3 crew.

–Final loss was A-26A 64-17646 (609th SOS, 56th SOW) lost over Laos on the night of July 7-8, 1969 killing both crew.

• A-37 Dragonfly-- --22 total

–First loss 1967; final loss 1972

• AC-47 Spooky-- --19 total, 17 in combat

–First loss 1965, final loss 1969

• AC-119 Shadow/Stinger-- --6 total, 2 in combat

–First loss was AC-119G 52-5907 (Det.1, 17th SOS, 14th SOW) which crashed on take-off from Tan Son Nhut, SVN on October 11, 1969 killing 6 of the 10 crew.

–Final loss 1971

• AC-130 Spectre-- --6 total, all combat.

–First loss was AC-130A 54-1629 (16th SOS, 8th TFW) hit by 37mm AAA over Laos and crash-landed at Ubon RTAFB, 2 crewmen died (one died of injuries before reaching Ubon) but 11 others survived.

–Final loss 1972

• B-52 Stratofortress-- --30 total, 18 in combat

-First loss non-combat 1965, final loss 1973

• B-57 Canberra-- --56 total, 38 in combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1970

• C-7 Caribou-- --20 total

-First USAF Caribou lost was C-7B 62-4161 (459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483d Tactical Airlift Wing) which was hit by a US 155mm shell on August 3, 1967 in SVN killing the 3 crew.

-Final loss was C-7B 62-12584 (483d TAW) which crashed in SVN, all 4 crew survived.

• C-47 Skytrain-- --21 total

-A C-47 was very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY at Vientiane, Laos which was shot down by the Pathet Lao on March 23, 1961 killing 7 of the 8 crew. The sole survivor, US Army Maj. Lawrence Bailey was captured and held until August 1962.

-Final loss EC-47Q 43-48636 (361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 56th SOW) shot down in Laos on the night of 04/5 February 4-5, 1973 killing all 8 crew.

• C-123 Provider-- --53 total, 21 in combat

-First loss was C-123B 56-4370 attached to the 464th TAW which came down on a Operation Ranch Hand (defoliation) training flight between Bien Hoa and Vung Tau, SVN on February 2, 1962

-Final loss 1971

• C-130 Hercules-- --55 total, 34 in combat

-First loss 1965

-Final loss 1972

• C-141 Starlifter-- --2 total, 0 combat

-Losses were C-141A 65-9407 (62d Military Airlift Wing) destroyed in a night runway collision with a USMC A-6 at Danang, SVN on March 23, 1967 killing 5 of the 6 crew; 66-0127 (4th Military Airlift Squadron, 62d MAW) crashed soon after take-off from Cam Ranh Bay, SVN on April 13, 1967 killing 6 of the 8 crew.

• E/RB-66 Destroyer --14 total

-First loss was RB-66B 53-0452 (Det 1, 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 6250th Combat Support Group) which crashed October 22-23, 1965 west of Pleiku, SVN killing the crew crew.

-Final loss EB-66C 54-0466 (42d TEWS, 388th TFW) shot down in Military Region I, SVN on April 2, 1972 during the Easter Offensive, 5 of the 6 crew KIA, the sole survivor was LtCol. Iceal Hambleton ("Bat-21") eventually rescued after costly CSAR that resulted in the loss of a number of aircraft and crews.

• EC-121 Bat Cat-- --2 total, 0 combat

-Losses were EC-121R 67-24193 (554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d RW) crashed April 25, 1969 on take-off in a thunderstorm from Korat RTAFB, killing all 18 crew. 67-21495 crashed in heavy rain on approach to Korat RTAFB IN 1969, 4 of the 16 were Killed

• F-4 Phantom II-- --445 total, 382 in combat

-First loss was non-combat, F-4C 64-0674 (45TH TFS, 15th TFW) which ran out of fuel after strike in SVN on June 9, 1965; first combat loss F-4C 64-0685 (45th TFS, 15th TFW) shot down Ta Chan, NW NVN on June 20, 1965.

-Final loss 1973

• F-5 Freedom Fighter-- --9 total

-First loss 1965, final loss 1967

• F-100 Super Sabre-- --243 total, 198 in combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1971

• F-102 Delta Dagger-- --14 total

-First loss 1964, final loss 1967

• F-104 Starfighter-- --14 total

First loss 1965, final loss 1967

• F-105D Thunderchief-- --335 total, 283 in combat

-First loss F-105D 59-1768 (36th TFS, 18th TFW) shot down August 8, 1964, over Laos, pilot rescued

-Final loss F-105D 61-0153 (469th TFS, 388th TFW) shot down Laos September 23, 1970, pilot Capt. J. W.Newhouse rescued

• F-105F/G Thunderchief "Wild Weasel" "Ryan's Raiders"-- --47 total, 37 combat

-First loss EF-105F 63-8286 (13th TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by AAA RP-6 July 6, 1966, Maj. Roosevelt Hestle and Capt. Charles Morgan KIA

-Last loss F-105G 63-8359 (17th Wild Weasel Squadron, 388th TFW) shot down by SAM November 16, 1972, RP-3, crew rescued

• F-111A "Aardvark"-- --10 total, 6 in combat

-First loss Combat Lancer 1968

-Final loss 474th TFW, Cambodia 1973

• HU-16 Albatross-- --2 total

-Two losses, both 1966

• KB-50 Superfortress tanker-- --1 total, 0 combat

-Only loss KB-50J 48-0065 (421st Air Refueling Squadron Detachment) at Takhli RTAFB which crashed in Thailand on October 14, 1964, all 6 crew survived.

• KC-135 Stratotanker-- --3 total, 0 combat

-Two crashes in 1968, one 1969, all operational non-combat

• O-1 Bird Dog-- --172 total, 122 in combat

-First loss 1963, final loss 1972

• O-2 Skymaster-- --104 total, 82 in combat

-First loss 1967, final loss 1972

• OV-10 Bronco-- --63 total, 47 in combat

First loss 1968, final loss 1973

• QU-22-- --9 drones lost

-First loss was YQU-22A 68-10531 (553d RW) which crashed due to engine failure on June 11, 1969, final loss 1972

• RF-4C Phantom II-- --83 total, 76 in combat

-First loss 1966, final loss 1972

• RF-101 Voodoo-- --39 total, 33 in combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1968

• SR-71 Blackbird-- --2 total, 0 combat

-SR-71A 64-17969 (Det OL-8, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) suffered engine failure over Thailand on May 10, 1970, both crew ejected safely.; SR-71A 64-17978 (Det OL-KA, 9th SRW) crashed on landing at Kadena, Okinawa on July 20, 1972, both crewmen survived.

• T-28 Trojan-- --23 total

-First loss 1962, final loss 1968

• U-2 "Dragon Lady"-- --1 total, 0 combat

-Only loss U-2C 56-6690 (349th Strategic Reconnaissance S,quadron 100th SRW) which crashed on October 8, 1966 near Bien Hoa, SVN, Maj. Leo J Stewart ejected and was rescued.

• U-3 Blue Canoe-- --1 total, 1 combat

-Onnly loss U-3B 60-6058, destroyed on the ground during a VC attack on Tan Son Nhut, SVN on June 14, 1968.

• U-6 Beaver-- --1 total, 0 combat

Only loss U-6A 51-15565 (432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing) which crashed in Thailand December 28, 1966, both crewmembers survived.

• U-10 Courier-- --1 total, 1 combat

-U-10D 63-13102 (5th SOS, 14th SOW) shot down August 14, 1969 near Bien Hoa killing 1/Lt Roger Brown.

• CH/HH-3 Jolly Green Giant -- --14 total

• CH/HH-53 Super Jolly -- --10 total

Source: Air Force Magazine, Vol.87, No. 9, September 2004, P.58, "The Vietnam War Almanac," with attribution to USAF Operations Report, Nov. 30, 1973 Individual loss a/c report details come from "Vietnam Air Losses" CHristopher Michael Hobson, Midland Publishing 2001

United States Navy

• A-1 Skyraider --65 total, 48 in combat
• A-3 Skywarrior --7 total, 2 in combat
• A-4 Skyhawk --282 total, 195 in combat
• A-5 Vigilante (7) --0 in combat
• A-6 Intruder --62 total, 51 in combat
• A-7 Corsair --100 total, 55 in combat
• C-1 Trader --4 total, 0 in combat
• C-2 Greyhound --1 total, 0 in combat
• C-47 Skytrain (1)
• E-1 Tracer --3 total, 0 in combat
• E-2 Hawkeye --2 total, 0 in combat
• EA-1 Skyraider --4 total, 1 in combat
• EC-121 Warning Star (1?)
• F-4 Phantom --138 total, 75 in combat
• F-8 Crusader --118 total, 57 in combat
• OV-10 Bronco (7)
• P-2 Neptune (4)
• P-3 Orion (2)
• RA-5 Vigilante --26 total, 18 in combat
• RF-8 Crusader --29 total, 19 in combat
• S-2 Tracker --4 total, 2 in combat

Source: hand tabulation of individual loss entries by date and aircraft carrier, June 7, 1964-August 15, 1973, carrier air wings only, recorded in Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, René J. Francillon (1988)

United States Marine Corps

• A-4 Skyhawk 81
• A-6 Intruder 25
• C-117 Skytrain 2
• EA-6 Prowler 2
• EF-10 Skynight 5
• F-4 Phantom 98
• F-8 Crusader 21
• KC-130 Hercules 4
• O-1 Bird Dog 7
• OV-10 Bronco 10
• RF-4 Phantom 4
• RF-8 Crusader 1
• TA-4 Skyhawk 10
• TF-9 Cougar 1

Republic of Vietnam aircraft

• A-1 Skyraider

• A-37A/B Dragonfly

• AC-47

• AC-119G/K Stinger - served Mar'72 -

• B-57 Canberra

• C-7A Caribou - served late'71 - mid'74 (grounded due to budget cuts)

• C-47 Skytrain

• C-119 Flying Boxcar - served Mar'68 -

• C-123K Provider - served May'73 - 1973 only (replaced by C-130A) 10 lost, 4 to grounnd fire

• C-130A Hercules - 2 combat losses

• F-5A/B/C Freedom Fighter

• F-5E Tiger II

• U/H-1D/H Iroquois (helicopter)

• C/UH-34C/D/G Choctaw (helicopter)

• CH-47A Chinook (helicopter)

• O-1 Bird Dog

• O-2A Skymaster - served 1970 - mid'74 (grounded due to budget cuts)

• T-28 Trojan

• T-37 Tweety Bird (trainer)

• T-41D Mescalero (trainer)

• U-6A Beaver

• U-17A/B Skywagon

VNAF a/c details sourced from "Flying Dragon - The South Vietnamese Air Force" Robert C. Milikesh, Schiffer Military History , 2005

North Vietnamese aircraft

Fixed-wing losses (air to air combat only)

• An-2 4 claimed
• MiG-17 Fresco 100 (110 claimed)
• MiG-19 Farmer 10 claimed
• MiG-21 Fishbed 86 (90 claimed)

People's Republic of China aircraft

Fixed-wing losses (air to air combat only)

• MiG-17 Fresco 3 claimed

Sources

• [1]