In 1974, a newly converted Lockheed WC-130H (Air Force serial number 65-0965) was transferred to the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the "Typhoon Chasers", at

Andersen Air Force Base Andersen Air Force Base (Andersen AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located primarily within the village of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam. The host unit at Andersen AFB is the 36th Wing (36 WG), assigned to the Pacif ...

on Guam. The aircraft, using the call sign ''Swan 38'', was sent to investigate Typhoon Bess after it passed over the Philippines and continued to the northwest. The crew departed

Clark Air Base Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base in Luzon, located west of Angeles City, and about northwest of Metro Manila. It was previously operated by the U.S. Air Force and, before that, the U.S. Army, from 1903 to 1991. The base cov ...

on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.Tom Robison
Whiskey-Charlie!
Retrieved on 2011-06-19.

History

Radio contact with ''Swan 38'' was lost after 22:00 on 12 October 1974, apparently as the aircraft was heading into the typhoon's eye to make a second position fix during its alpha pattern. There were no radio transmissions indicating an emergency on board, and search teams could not locate the aircraft or its crew except for a few pieces of debris. All six crew members were listed as missing and presumed dead. The ''Swan 38'' crew members were: Capt. Edward R. Bushnell, 1st Lt. Gary W. Crass, 1st Lt. Michael P. O'Brien, 1st Lt. Timothy J. Hoffman, Tech. Sgt. Kenneth G. Suhr, and Sgt. Detlef W. Ringler.

References

Accidents and incidents involving United States Air Force aircraft Missing aircraft Accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Aviation accidents and incidents in 1974 1974 in the Philippines 1974 meteorology October 1974 in Asia 1974 disasters in Asia {{Aviation-accident-stub