This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Duane Kimbrow (Skip)
to remember
Stow, Lilburn Ray, Maj.
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On the first day of Operation Delaware, a C-130B (#60-0298) from the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing was badly damaged by ground fire. Major Lilburn Stow was attempting to land in a field near the air field when he saw it was occupied by US Army troops picking up cargo. He pulled up and the airplane struck trees and crashed, killing all aboard. Major Donald Strobaugh, commander of the 8th APG CCT, ran to the wreckage to search for survivors. He was awarded the Airman's Medal for his efforts."
On 26 April 1968, Major Lilburn R. Stow, pilot; Major John L McDaniel, pilot; and Sgt. Larry R. Todd, loadmaster; were three members of an eight-man aircrew of a C-130B that was conducting an emergency resupply mission for American and allied ground personnel who were operating in the infamous A Shau Valley, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam. (A Loi). The A Luoi Airfield was located in the northern portion of the A Shau Valley.
Upon arriving in the area, Major Stow established radio contact with A Luoi Airfield's ground control for landing instructions. Once cleared in, the Herc made its approach and was struck by heavy, accurate enemy 37mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire. The seriously damaged Herc attempted to land, but crashed into the runway and scattered flaming wreckage along its path.
When the wreckage cooled sufficiently, search and rescue (SAR) personnel were able to locate and recover the bodies of 5 of the 8 men on board. They were unable to find any trace of either pilot or the aircraft's loadmaster.
At the time the formal search was terminated, Lilburn Stow, John McDaniel and Larry Todd were declared Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered. Memorial at: Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, Plot: MA, 0, 3.
Crewmen killed in the incident:
Maj Lilburn R Stow (BNR)
Capt James J McKinstry
Maj John L McDaniel (BNR)
TSgt Russell R Fyan (600th Photo Sq.)
SSgt Beryl S Blaylock
Sgt Daniel J O'Connor (600th Photo Sq.)
Sgt Larry R Todd (BNR)
A1C Kenneth L Johnson
This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii as well as one in Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, Plot: MA, 0, 3.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Boeing B-52H Stratofortress Length 160.89 ft | 49.04 m Width 185.10 ft | 56.42 m Height 40.68 ft | 12.40 m Engine(s) 8 x Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofan engines generating 17,000lbs of standard thrust each. Empty Weight 172,743 lbs | 78,355 kg MTOW 487,993 lbs | 221,350 kg Max Speed 595 mph | 958 km/h | 517 kts Max Range 10,000 miles | 16,093 km Ceiling 54,954 ft | 16,750 m | 10.4 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 2 Armament Mission-specific armament can include any of the following:
20 x AGM-86B ALCM cruise missiles (internal) 20 x AGM-129 cruise missiles (internal) 2 x AGM-86B ALCMs cruise missile (external) 2 x AGM-129 cruise missiles (external) Free Fall Nuclear Bombs 12 x AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles 12 x AGM-142A air-to-surface missiles AGM-86C CALCM cruise missiles JDAMs
Up to 51,570lbs (340kg) class bombs or mines Accommodations 6 Operators United States of America
