C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

Hi guys

On 23 May 1969, an American air mechanic (who held a private pilots' licence)stole a C-130 from Mildenhall base in Suffolk, with the apparent intention of flying to the US.

It was rumoured that two F-100s from Lakenheath were scrambled and shot down the C-130 into the English Channel near Alderney in the Channel Isles.

It is a fact that the C-130 fell into the Channel with the loss of the airman, but was the aircraft actually shot down?

Cheers
Brian

Re: C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

A long thread on the subject on Key publushing forum. Before all wheels are reinvented.

https://forum.keypublishing.com/show...rcules-63-7789

Re: C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

I have a connection to this event. The plane was stolen by a drunk airman and in the confusion the plane was in the air before anyone could mount a coherent response (there was no drunk-stealing-a plane drill). He was tracked from the ground and efforts were made to talk him down but the 'pilot' wasn't co-operating. He talked of 'going home'. Other aircraft were warned away from the erratic path and fighters were vectored to observe. It fell off the screens before they made contact. It was not shot down.

Bruce

Re: C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

Thanks guys

I was unaware of the info on the internet.

Cheers
Brian

Re: C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

Hello,

Scramble's " US Military Aircraft Mishaps 1950-2004"
Has-

23 May 69
150119 - A4E - WL - VMA-311, 16 M NW of Da Many, SVN,hit by AAA during napalm run, pilot ejected safely. ( who was he and did he return safely ?).
68-15392 - UH-1H - 155th AHC, NF Highway 13, NF Phumi Kantuot, Kracheh province, Cambodia. Hit by ground fire and crashed, 4 killed. 5 survived. ( who were these airmen and did the survivors return safely ?).
63-7789 - C-130E - LM - 316th TAW, into English Channel 15 M N of Alderney, S of Bournemouth, UK.Crashed after being stolen from RAF Mildenhall by Sgt. Paul Meyer who was homesick - ran out of fuel eventually. Pilot killed.

So there were others this day that should not be forgotten.

Alex

Re: C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-46624382

Bruce

Re: C-130 shot down by F-100s?
 

1st Lt. Peter W. Otis ejected and was rescued when his Skyhawk (BuNo 150119) was hit by ground fire during a napalm run 16 miles NW of Da Nang.
Source: http://a4skyhawk.info/article-unit/vma311

Full narrative and list of crew with fate: https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/69052333KIA.HTM
(except that it lists only 8 men, so 1 MIA, 3 KIA and 4 recovered alive)