my father was aboard rivet amber which crashed on june 5 1969 does anyone know anything about this?

Answer 1

Date: 05 JUN 1969
Time: 10:22
Type: Boeing RC-135E
Operator: United States Air Force - USAF
Registration: 62-4137
C/n / msn: 18477/C43
First flight: 1962
Crew: Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total: Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19
Airplane damage: Written off
Location: off Shemya, AK (United States of America)
Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Shemya AFB, AK (SYA / PASY), United States of America
Destination airport: Fairbanks-Eielson AFB, AK (EIL / PAEI)
Narrative:
RC-135E "Rivet Amber" was at that time the most sophisticated reconnaissance plane of the US Air Force. It was converted to this configuration in 1963 to fly reconnaissance missions against the Soviet re-entry range off the Kamchatka Peninsula. On June 5, 1969, Rivet Amber departed Shemya for a flight to Fairbanks for routine maintenance. About thirty minutes after departing Shemya, Rivet Amber (callsign Irene 92) transmitted the following message to Elmendorf AFB: "Elmendorf Airways, Irene 92 experiencing vibration in flight. Not certain of the emergency. We have the aircraft under control, Irene 92." This was the last radio contact with the flight. Unidentified microphone keying clicks continued until 10:22. The aircraft crashed at sea.


Events:

Result - Crash out of control

Sources:
A Tale of Two Airplanes by King Hawes

and also:
June 5, 1969 - A Rivet Amber KC-135 assigned to Eielson crashed in the Bering Sea minutes after leaving Shemya Air Force Base. Nineteen crewmembers died. Amber Hall, the headquarters building at Eielson, was named for the crew a year later.

Answer 2

On June 5, 1969 I was in the US Air Force Security Service stationed in Anchorage, AK. Just today I was reading through some old letters I wrote to my parents, and came across one dated June 16,1969. Thought you might find it interesting:

Dear Mom and Dad,
Did you hear anything about the airplane the AF lost up here a week + ago? I listened to a recording of the last contact they had with them at work today. It really makes you feel strange. The pilot said the plane was vibrating, but they dad it under control again. Then the base said "Do you say you're not going to declare an emergency? Confirm please." Then there was some real heavy and hard breathing and the Pilot said: "Ah. . . Roger. . . ahhhh! . . ." Then about 5 seconds later he said "crew go to oxygen." That was the last thing heard from them. They didn't find any of the plane and have given up the search now. It was a big jet (like the 707). There were 19 people on it (some USAFSS airmen doing what we do).

Bryan Nelson

Answer 3

Truly sorry for your loss. The Rivet Amber left with 19 people on board - higher number than usual - 7 were AF members. The Captain was filling in as usual pilot was going to his daughter's wedding. It was headed to Eielson AFB for routine maintenance when they reported vibrations & said they were going to oxygen & a lower height. It was over the Alueticans which water is cold enough that survival is estimated between 2 mins & 20 mins.
I am truly sorry for the loss of all 19 & esp. that they were never found.

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

Rc-135e