fairchild c-123k provider (54-0708)

FAIRCHILD C-123K PROVIDER (REGISTRATION: 54-0708)
On December 17, 1968, a USAF Fairchild C-123K Provider (#54-0708) from the 309th Special Operations Squadron crashed shortly after takeoff from Chu Lai Air Base after reportedly encountering an engine failure following fuel transfer problems. Three crewmen and nine passengers were killed in the crash. The lost crewmen included aircraft commander LTC Richard A. Brown, co-pilot 1LT Roger H. Strout, and flight engineer SSGT Jesse J. Bradshaw. The lost passengers were U.S. Army personnel: 1LT John A. Blaco Jr., PFC Bradley J. Bourque, SGT Ramon Castro-Morales, CPT Richard C. Drewes, CPT John K. Hayward, CWO John P. Koob, 1LT John D. Krouslis, SSGT Wallace F. Simpkin, and CPT Morton H. Singer. Five other passengers died subsequent to the injuries they received. They included two Marines, SGT Mancol R. Clifton, who died the following day due to burns he suffered; and PVT George W. Brown, who passed away January 13, 1969, also from burns. The three other lost passengers were soldiers: SP4 Dennis G. Benson, who died December 23, 1968, from burns after being evacuated to a burn unit at the 106th Army General Hospital in Yokohama, Japan; SFC Richard H. Sweger, who died January 2, 1969, from bilateral pneumonia due to his injuries; and SP4 Henry E. Russell, who died May 7, 1969, after spending 135 days at Brooke Army General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he was being treated for burns he suffered over 35% of his body.