OPERATION DELAWARE, which began 19 April 1968, was intended to disrupt enemy
activities in the western part of the A Shau Valley. On 25 April, US cavalry units air assaulted into the
abandoned airstrip at A Luoi. The location of the A Luoi Airfield was approximately 1 mile west of Highway
548, the primary road running through the A Shau Valley and part of the NVA's infiltration route through Laos and
into this vital sector of South Vietnam. It was also adjacent to a sector of eastern Laos located in
rugged jungle covered mountains approximately 25 miles west-northwest of the A Shau Valley, Saravane Province, Laos.
The area was a primary north-south artery of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and Highway 922, which branched off and ran
directly east where it crossed into South Vietnam at a strategic point near the northern edge of the A Shau Valley.
It was also the Ho Chi Minh Trail's control center and contained the largest NVA storage facility outside of
North Vietnam.
On the 26th, in weather with ceilings as low as 300 to 500 feet, C-130s from
Cam Ranh Bay, Bien Hoa, and Tan Son Nhut were tasked with air-dropping supplies to the cavalrymen.
The first 20 C-130s received antiaircraft fire, and seven of them were hit.
At 14:16 hours (2:14 p.m.), Major Lilburn R. Stow, pilot; Major John L McDaniel, pilot;
and Sgt. Larry R. Todd, loadmaster; were three of an eight-man aircrew of the 21st C-130 (C-130B tail number
60-0298, call sign Terry 605). Upon arriving in the area,
Major Stow established radio contact with ground control for landing instructions. Once cleared in, the
Herc made its final approach when it was hit heavily by .51 caliber and 37mm AAA fire and its cargo was set afire.
The pilot elected to attempt an emergency landing on the airstrip but hit trees, crashed, and exploded.
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 (BNR).
There is little doubt that Major Stow, Major McDaniel and Sergeant Todd died in the loss of their aircraft along with
5 other men. The Crewmen killed in the incident were:
Maj Lilburn R Stow (BNR) (772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron)
CPT James J McKinstry (772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron)
MAJ John L McDaniel (BNR) (772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron)
TSGT Russell R Fyan (600th Photo Squadron)
SSGT Beryl S Blaylock (772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron)
SGT Daniel J O'Connor (600th Photo Squadron)
SGT Larry R Todd (BNR) (772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron)
A1C Kenneth L Johnson (772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron)
-- The Virtual Wall
