summer 1969 midair KC-130 & jets off coast, northern I corps

[J.J. Huntz]

I was flying with Hmm-265 as a crew chief and I'm unsure of exact date but it was summer 1969 and we heard of a midair that took place over the water between a KC-130 and other acft trying to refuel, one of my freinds was crewing another CH-46 that was closer to the general area of the downed aircraft and they diverted to the site and preformed SAR. I would appreciate any further info or leads on written information on the incident. Thanks for any assistance, J.J. Huntz, Semper Fi

[IGOR]

Here is the info from Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson:

18 May 1969
KC-130F 149814 VMGR-152 Major Jamie Sells, Major John Williams, MGSgt Carroll Hersey, MSgt Edmond Polenski, Sgt Robert Bonebright, Cpt James Cox - all KIA

F-4B 151001 VMFA-542 1Lt Charles Pigott, Capt. John Nalls - both KIA
F-4B 151450 VMFA-314 Major J D Moody, 1Lt Griffiths - both survived

Near Phu Bai. Two Phantoms from VMFA-314 were plugged into a KC-130F tanker taking on fuel when a Phantom from VMFA-542 on an oppsite track slammed into the tanker's starboard wing near the Number 3 engine. The crew from one of the 314 fighters managed to eject over the sea after jettisonig their bombs and the other aircraft (flown by Major A Gillespie and 1Lt V Maddox returned safely to Chu Lai.

Semper Fi
IGOR