1969 — Feb 5, USAF HC-130 Hercules plane crash, rescue mission, ocean ~100M so. of Taiwan-13

–13 Albuquerque Journal, NM. “Rescue Plane Crashes; 13 Lost.” 2-6-1969, p. 2.
–13 ASN. Accident description. USAF Lockheed HC-130H Hercules, offshore Taiwan
–13 Baugher, Joseph F. 1965 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-16-2012 revision.
–13 Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “13 Lost in Plane Crash.” 2-5-1969, p. 1.
–13 Evening Observer, Dunkirk, NY. “Lone Survivor of Plane Crash Taken…” 2-7-1969, p. 4.
–13 Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 100.
–13 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Sole Crash Survivor. God and Lady Luck With…” 2-9-1969, p7

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Lockheed HC-130H-LM Hercules…0990 (c/n 382-4151) ditched off Taiwan during rescue attempt Feb 4, 1969. Plane was searching for survivors of Japanese freighter when contacted the water and crashed. 13 of 14 onboard killed.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1965 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-16-2012 revision.)

Gero:
“Date: 5 February 1969 (c.11:45)
“Location: (Western) Pacific Ocean
“Operator: US Air Force
“Aircraft type: Lockheed HC-130H (65-0990)

“In searching for 17 crew members from a sunken Japanese ship, the aircraft itself met with disaster, crashing in Bashi Channel, north of the (Philippine) Batan Islands…Among its 14 crewmen, only one seriously injured survivor was found. Having arrived from Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, 65-0990 was among three aircraft participating in the search and rescue operation. The four-engine turboprop had been flying in a wings-level attitude at a low altitude when it slammed into the surface and caught fire. The weather in the area at the time consisted of an overcast at 1,500 (500m) and a visibility of 7 miles (11km). The wind was from a direction of 30 degrees at 30 to 35 knots, which contributed to ocean swells estimated at 20 to 30ft (6-10m). There was no evidence of severe turbulence or wind shear, or that down-draughts could have contributed to the crash. It was not raining in the area, but the crews of the other aircraft reported that salt spray was reducing visibility at low altitudes. It was also noted in the investigative report that as most of the aircraft operating in the area had been using a common altimeter setting, air pressure remained relatively constant. The type of accident was described as ‘inadvertent contact with the water’ during low-level flight over open sea.”

Newspaper

Feb 5: “Manila (UPI) — A U.S. Air Force HC-130 Hercules rescue plane with 14 crewmen aboard crashed today in heavy seas about 100 miles south of Taiwan. The plane was looking for survivors from a Japanese ship which sank earlier in the day. A Japanese freighter picked up one of the American crewmen but reported no sign of the 13 others.” (Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “13 Lost in Plane Crash.” 2-5-1969, p. 1.)

Feb 6: “Tokyo (AP) – A four-engine American search plane looking for survivors of a ship disaster crashed into the sea 70 miles south of Taiwan Wednesday [Feb 5] apparently killing 13 of the 14 crewmen aboard. One airman was rescued by a Japanese merchant ship. Japanese maritime officials identified the man as James Philips and said he had suffered a leg injury and burns….

“The aircraft, an HC 130 Hercules cargo plane, was one of two dispatched from Clark AFB in the Philippines to look for survivors of a Japanese ship sinking. Fifteen persons were rescued when the vessel, the freighter Shoka Maru, went down late Wednesday. Eight others were missing.” (Albuquerque Journal, NM. “Rescue Plane Crashes; 13 Lost.” 2-6-1969, p. 2.)

Feb 7: “Naha, Okinawa (UPI) – The only known survivor among 14 crewmen aboard a U. S. Air Force C130 Hercules plane which crashed off Taiwan while on a mercy mission was flown to Okinawa Thursday for treatment of injuries. Airman 1C James Phelps of Cuyler, N. Y., was listed in satisfactory condition at the U. S. Army Hospital here. A hospital spokesman said Phelps suffered moderately severe burns on his head, eyes and neck.

“The C130, assigned to the 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, crashed into the sea about 100 miles south of Taiwan Wednesday while taking part in a search for crewmen of a sunken Japanese freighter….” (Evening Observer, Dunkirk, NY. “Lone Survivor of Plane Crash Taken to Okinawa.” 2-7-1969, 4.)

Feb 9: “Camp Kue, Okinawa — “I was very lucky. It looks like God was on my right and Lady Luck on my left,” said Airman 1.C, James Phelps about his brush with death. Phelps was one of 14 men aboard an Air Force HC130 Hercules rescue plane which crashed about 70 miles southwest of Taiwan last Wednesday during a search for six missing Japanese seamen….‘There was an unusually strong jolt followed a few seconds later by a tremendous jar, then all hell broke loose,’ said Phelps, reliving the terror-filled moments of the crash. ‘There were no warning bells. Nothing. We were flying at around 300 feet when all of a sudden there were a couple of hard jolts and everything was flying around. ‘I was knocked around and seemed to wake up in a dream world. I remember trying to pull off my boots and floating around in the water,’ he said.

“Phelps is a para-rescue-man with the 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Sq, at Clark AB, R.P. He said he didn’t know how he wound up in the water or how he got his life preserver inflated. ‘Just before the accident, I was sitting in the rear of the plane. I was the only one there and did not have my seat belt on. I must have been thrown about the plane and when it hit the water it apparently broke up. The next thing I remember I woke up in the water and was pulling off my boots. I could see several ships in the distance and planes flying overhead,’ he explained.

“During the time he was unconscious Phelps received burns in his face added to the cuts and bruises on hands and legs while bouncing in the plane. He said he had no idea how he was burned in the face.

“Speaking from his hospital bed at the Camp Kue Army Hospital here Phelps related that he was in the water about an hour before a Japanese fishing vessel was able to pick him up. ‘The weather was real bad, winds were blowing around 40 m.p.h, and there were swells 35 to 40 feet high,’ he said. The 22-year-old airman expressed deep concern for his fellow crewmen. He feared they were all strapped in and had no chance.

“He explained that the aircraft was acting as a command post for the search of the missing crewmen of a Japanese freighter that sank in rough seas off Taiwan Tuesday. He also said that a 14-man crew was normal for this type of operation and that he was on standby in the aircraft in case his services were needed for any rescue operations.

“Phelps was later picked up by a helicopter from the 33rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Sq. from Naha AB, Okinawa which brought him to the Army hospital….” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “Sole Crash Survivor. God and Lady Luck With Airman.” 2-9-1969, p. 7.)

Sources

Albuquerque Journal, NM. “Rescue Plane Crashes; 13 Lost [USAF HC130, off Taiwan].” 2-6-1969, p. 2. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=61498665

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Tuesday 4 February 1969. Lockheed HC-130H Hercules. United States Air Force. Pacific Ocean, off Taiwan. Accessed 3-28-2022 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690204-2

Baugher, Joseph F. 1965 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-16-2012 revision. Accessed 2-27-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1965.html

Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “13 Lost in Plane Crash [USAF HC-130 off Taiwan].” 2-5-1969, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=55293045

Evening Observer, Dunkirk, NY. “Lone Survivor of Plane Crash Taken to Okinawa.” 2-7-1969, p. 4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=128960804

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “Sole Crash Survivor. God and Lady Luck With Airman.” 2-9-1969, p7. http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=141669712