On 16 April 1968, 08:00 CST, C-123K, sn 54-0602 (Call sign MOOSE 09) departed Hurlburt Field, FL, as lead aircraft in a flight of three C-123's. The assigned mission was a routine SEA serial spray training flight. The formation proceeded to a point 25 nm northwest of Panama City, Florida (the designated spray training area), arriving there at 08:35 CST.
At this time a series of simulated defoliation runs were conducted over an open field. At approximately 08:50 CST Aircraft 54-0602 assumed the number three position in a right echelon formation for practice defoliation runs along a series of roads. At the completion of the first run the lead aircraft gave a command to place the aircraft in a "piggy back" formation, then climbed from 150 feet AGL to approximately 300 feet AGL and executed a 270 degree turn to the right. While in this turn the Number Three aircraft contacted the ground in a left wing low position, cartwheeled, immediately caught fire and was destroyed. The instructor pilot, two student pilots, and the flight engineer sustained fatal injuries.
SURNAME
Gregelein
FORENAME
George Mason
UNIT
4408 Combat Crew Training Squadron (1 S.O. Wing)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
16th April 1968
AGE
33
GRAVESITE
East Lawn Palms Cemetery, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Alaska
born 18.10.1934 Belleville...
SURNAME
Neal
FORENAME
Thaddeus Montrose (Thad)
UNIT
4408 Combat Crew Training Squadron (1 S.O. Wing)
RANK
Lieutenant Colonel
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
16th April 1968
AGE
44
GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 31 Site 7833
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Alabama...
SURNAME
Chalk
FORENAME
Joseph Marvin, Jr
UNIT
4408 Combat Crew Training Squadron (1 S.O. Wing)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
16th April 1968
AGE
34
GRAVESITE
Rose Hill Memorial Park, Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Oklahoma
born 5.3.1934
son of...
SURNAME
Best
FORENAME
Richard
UNIT
4408 Combat Crew Training Squadron (1 S.O. Wing)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
16th April 1968
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of R.H. and Mrs Best,Brooklyn,New York
2 years service
flight engineer
C-123K Provider (54-0602)...
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