Fairchild C-123 Provider Crash near Khe Sanh, Vietnam - - Lemay, MO
Posted by: YoSam.
N 38° 30.014 W 090° 16.781
15S E 737225 N 4264826
Not a war memorial, but a military aircraft shot out of the sky. Fairchild C-123 Provider, Shot down by enemy fire.
Waymark Code: WM14FVK
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 07/01/2021
Views: 1
County of memorial: St. Louis County
Location of memorial: Middle Dr. & Monument Dr., Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay
Text on tombstone:
KILLED IN AIRCRAFT - SHOT DOWN BY HOSTILE GUNFIRE - VIETNAM - MARCH 6, 1968
This memorial to the incident is in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The thirty-seven names on this stone are the 37 remains buried at this site. There were 50 killed in the crash. More of those killed are listed in the web links provided. The names of the 37 buried here, their state of origin and their military rank and date of birth are readable in the photo gallery. Each individual can be looked up in the listing on this cemetery on Find-A-Grave. Link provided below. All names on this tombstone are buried here. Those killed not on this stone are buried else where.
"The aircraft was completing a flight from Huĕ to Khe Sanh, carrying troops and spare parts. On approach, the crew was forced to make a go-around because of the presence of a light aircraft on runway. Shortly later, the airplane was hit by ground fire. The left engine caught fire and the airplane crashed in a dense wooded area located 2 km from the airfield. All 50 occupants were killed, 5 crew members, 44 soldiers and one civilian photographer.
Crew:
Lt Col Frederick Jordan Hampton,
1st Lt Ellis Eugene Helgeson,
Sgt Jeffrey Francis Conlin,
S/Sgt William Frank Anselmo,
S/Sgt Noel Luis Rios.
~ Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives