b. Sep. 13, 1938 d. Apr. 4, 1975
From Rich Hopka AFTWS Historian: Castro, Joe, MSgt
C-5A Tail #68-0218 It was a “BABYLIFT” Operation Flight Crashed during Take-off from Tan Son Nhut boots date 4 Apr 75 (8 days in country) PACAF 405th Fighter Wing 1269th Photo Squadron In remembrance of the children who perished on the C-5A plane crash of the 1975 Vietnam orphan Babylift. Fragile Flames In the great expanse of sky you soar rising with the April heat.
Open your eyes little ones; do you see? below lies your country, serene and vigilant calling you to its embrace, the primal cradle of your birth. My brothers and sisters I have not forgotten, such fragile flames extinguished in mid-flight. Copyright 2001 Sue-San King C-5 Galaxy (68-0218) flew the initial mission of Operation Babylift to bring Vietnamese orphans to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. The C-5 departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhut Airport shortly after 4 p.m. on April 4, 1975.
Twelve minutes after takeoff, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage was torn apart. The locks of the rear loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. Control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were out. The crew wrestled at the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers.
The crew descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on Tan Son Nhut’s runway 25L. About halfway through a turn to final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly to 4,000 feet per minute. Seeing they couldn’t make the runway, full power was applied to bring the nose up. At 50 feet, the throttles where retarded to idle and the C-5 touched down in a rice paddy. Skidding about 1,000 feet, the aircraft again became airborne for a half mile before hitting a dike and breaking into four parts.
The cargo compartment was completely destroyed, killing 141 of the 149 orphans and attendants. Only three of 152 in the troop compartment perished. Five of the flight crew, three of the medical team, and three others lost their lives, but 175 of the 328 aboard survived. News of the plane crash brought widespread attention and sympathy toward the operation and the evacuees in the U.S. and other nations.
From AFTWS Wingman on 1 Jul 09: MASTER SERGEANT JOE CASTRO and SERGEANT KENNETH E. NANCE 4 April 1975, MSgt Castro and Sgt Nance were killed in a crash of a Military Airlift Command C-5A transport plane near Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, at the onset of Operation: BABYLIFT activities. These two men continued filming until impact, and according to survivors, MSgt Castro was last seen with his Motion Picture Camera at his shoulder filming action around him while Sgt Nance held the photo light high for him. Source: http://600photo.gapmedia.com/Memory/memory.html He was killed on 12 April 1975 which is end of service years.
I thank those who remember my father Joe Castro and the work he did that he truly loved. I was 12 when he left us and I can say his presence in our lives is sorely missed.
I had left NKP the previous June as our mission was transitioning from support of Special Ops and Air Rescue to documenting negotiations w/NV on remains recovery and dusting off the Homecoming OpPlan.
I was a public information desk officer at Hq. MAC and poised to promote the C-5’s role in our humanitarian efforts when the disaster message traffic came in. We updated information for the Pentagon spokesmen every few minutes as the situation became more clear. When I saw Joe Castro’s name, I felt the loss of a respected member of our family. I knew he would have shot priceless footage and dared to hope our team would beat the scavengers to his camera. A few months earlier the flight safety people could possibly have posted a reward in excess of the black market value of the camera, but we wouldn’t have flown this mission under those circumstances. The follow-on traffic confirmed my gut feeling: Joe died doing what loved — and did — best.
MSgt Joe Castro. My friend and Mentor. I stop at the Mini Vietnam Wall permantly displayed in Truth or Consequences New Mexico once a month when I return to area. I Touch Joes name on section 01W line 123 and speak to him a bit. Joe was on fast track to Chief and had great future ahead of him. My rise to Chief I credit to Joe as he encouraged and advised me often. I call him “Chief” as he was to me. Rest in Peace Joe. Best to your family , hope they are fine. Roy Bagwell, CMSgt, Ret, COMDOC