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TSgt Aaron Gregory Fidiam, Jr.,
May 16, 1965 |
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CPT Ernest McFeron, TSgt Claude Marvin Bunch, and SSgt David Lee Hubbard, Jr. were killed on 16 May 1965. TSgt Fidiam and Bunch Fidiam were assigned to the 34th Air Base Squadron, 34th Tactical Group, 13th Air Force, CPT
McFeron was assigned to the 33rd Air Base Squadron, and SSgt Hubbard was assigned to the 33rd Air Base Squadron, 33rd Tactical Group. On Sunday, 16 May 1965, a group of 11 Martin B-57B Night Intruder bombers that were loaded for a 0930 hours strike mission were sitting on the runway at Bien Hoa Air Base, Bien Hoa Province. The B-57s were loaded with two 750-pound and ten 500-pound bombs, plus napalm. At 0815 hours the aircrews manned and started their aircraft when enemy mortar rounds hit the air base, which caused a 750-pound bomb loaded aboard the lead B-57B detonated. This explosion set off a chain of secondary explosions along the flight line. The resulting conflagration killed 27 men and destroyed ten B-57Bs, eleven VNAF Douglas A-1H Skyraiders, a USAF A-1E, and a U.S. Navy Vought F-8E Crusader and caused numerous casualties among air and ground crewmen. In addition, 23 other aircraft received damage.
Additional Facts: Serial Number: ; MOS: ; Born: 31 July 1934; Age: 30; Hometown: Endicott, New York; Tour Started: ; Buried: Arlington National Cemetery; Vietnam Memorial: Panel 01E Row 117. |