Neef, Frederick, A1C

Birth: Dec. 5, 1951
Death: Nov. 27, 1970, Thai Binh, Vietnam
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA
Plot: Section 37 Site 59

Airman First Class Frederick Richard Neef was killed in action aboard an aircraft that crashed in South Vietnam.

A1C Neef was a photographer for the 600th Photo Squadron at Tan Son Nhut AB. He was aboard an Fairchild C-123K Provider (tail number 55-4574) call sign “Bookie 102” (aircraft assigned to the 19th TAS) that was en route to Nha Trang AB from Tan Son Nhut AB when it struck trees on a ridge at an elevation of 4600 feet, some 500 feet below the top. It crashed at 1330 in the hills west of Cam Ranh Bay, 25 km (15.6 mls) SW of Nha Trang Airport. Weather was poor with a broken overcast at 2000 feet and 1500 m visibility. The wreckage was found nine days after the accident.

79 people were killed in the crash,

5 USAF personnel from the 19th Tactical Airlift Squadron:
Major Robert L. Baker
1st Lt. Marvin S. Arthington
1st Lt. Frederick M. Rader
TSgt. William B. O’Kieff
Sgt Allen J. Bodin

1 USAF from the 600th Photographic Squadron:
A1C Frederick R. Neef

South Vietnamese Troops:
73 ARVIN soldiers