Fire in Flight – Page 9.
The picture below is a good look at how the crew exited the airplane. Smoke is billowing out of the overhead escape hatch through which the navigator, engineer and loadmaster exited. Both pilots exited through their side windows, one of the windows visible in this picture.
Fig. 13 - #3 engine visible minus a prop as crews continue to fight the flames.
Fig. 14 - Fire crew battles the blaze.
May 3rd, 2010 - 08:08
I first heard of this incident while in Vietnam, but never knew the details. The following year one of my squadron’s (773TAS, 463TAW, Clark AB, Philippines) aircraft was similarly hit at Katum, but crashed with the loss of all crewmembers. A few months ago, Pat emailed me about comments I had added to Reg Manning’s (Command Seargant Major, Ret.), who witnessed the crash. Pat kindly asked if he could use my name in his story in reference to my squadron’s loss. While I landed at Katum five times, my entire experience in Vietnam doesn’t come close to matching Pat’s on that single day. I am glad he chose to tell his story and place it in online. Thanks, Pat…
Pat is an extraordinary pilot. Job well done!
June 27th, 2017 - 09:31
The pilot’s memory of the event is nothing short but amazing. What a story ! ! There is a God