SSgt David Lee Hubbard, Jr.,

 

May 16, 1965

CPT Ernest McFeron, TSgt Claude Marvin Bunch, and TSgt Aaron Gregory Fidiam,

 Jr. were killed on 16 May 1965.  SSgt Hubbard was assigned to the 33^rd Air Base

Squadron, 33^rd Tactical Group,

 

CPT McFeron was assigned to the 33^rd Air Base Squadron, and TSgt Bunch and Fidiam

Were assigned to the 34^th Air Base Squadron, 34^th Tactical Group, 13^th Air Force.  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: 26 October 1937; Age: 27;

Hometown: Chelsea, Oklahoma; Tour Started: ; Vietnam Memorial: Panel 01E Row 118.