10 FEB. 1968, At noon a silvery KC130-F of VMGR-152, #14981, call sign BASKETBALL-813….
KIA:
BROWN, SSGT WILLIAM LEO H&HS-1 (Passenger)
D’ADAMO, MSGT JOHN JR VMGR-152 (DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS) (Crew)
DEVIK, LCPL DANIEL RALF VMGR-152 (DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS) (Crew)
FERREN, LCPL JERRY WAYNE VMGR-152 (Crew-DOW 3-1-68)
PETERSON, COL CARL ELVING 1 MAW (Passenger)
WALBRIDGE, SSGT GEORGE WILCOX H&HS-1 (Passenger)
@David Duncan photo
LCpl Jerry Ferren
Thought you might like to listen to this post cast made in 2010 with VMGR 149813 pilot Bud Wildfang, describing the beat by beat USMC C-130 crash on Feb 10, 1968
http://www.marinebattleherk.com/apps/podcast/podcast/16506
Ron Main & unknown truck driver
Major
Henry 'Bud' Wildfang
Marine Corps
Inducted 2011
Henry 'Bud' Wildfang
Major Henry "Bud" Wildfang, U. S. Marine Corps, was born 17 May 1916 in Bismarck, North Dakota. He attended the University of North Dakota for three years when World War II interrupted his studies. On 9 May 1941 he was accepted into the U. S. Naval Aviation Program and 16 April 1942 was commissioned a second lieutenant with Naval Aviator designation.
He flew photo missions during World War II and was ordered to the South Pacific for a second tour when the war ended. He was released from active duty in 1946. Three months later he returned to active duty a master sergeant. He served two tours in the Vietnam War and participated in supply operations into Khe Sanh Combat Base during the 1968 Tet Offensive.
On 10 February 1968, while making his approach onto the Khe Sanh landing strip, with a cargo of filled fuel cells, his aircraft came under blistering enemy automatic small arms fire that punctured the fuel cells. He successfully landed the plane onto the runway, however, it exploded killing three crew members and four passengers. He was wounded, hospitalized, recovered and completed his combat tour.
In 1978 he was awarded the prestigious Navy and Marine Corps Gray Eagle Award and is a three-year holder of the Silver Hawk Award, a designation for the senior Marine Aviator on active duty.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Gold Stars, Purple Heart, 29 Air Medals and Navy Commendation Medal. He retired in 1978 and in 1979 made his home in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
Corpsman Roberts from Charlie Med 0n the left then Dan Sullivan
I did not the know two on the right
Status:
Date: Saturday 10 February 1968
Type: Lockheed KC-130F Hercules
Operator: United States Marine Corps
Registration: 149813
C/n / msn: 3719
First flight: 1962
Crew: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 6
Passengers: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Total: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 11
Airplane damage: Destroyed
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Khe Sanh ( Vietnam) show on map
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Da Nang Airport (DAD/VVDN), Vietnam
Destination airport: Khe Sanh, Vietnam
Narrative:
The U.S. base at Khe Sanh was being resupplied with ammunition and fuel. One of the aircraft involved in the resupply mission was a USMC KC-130F Hercules, 149813. The airplane carried a load of flamethrowers and some rubber bladders filled with jet fuel.
The airplane was on finals the Khe Sanh when it was hit by .50 calibre gunfire. Engine nr.3 caught fire and a fuel bladder was hit. It ruptured and the fuel caught fire. Trailing fire, the pilot managed to land at Khe Sanh. The fuel bladders exploded into flames after touchdown. Just three crew members managed to escape the burning plane.
