Miles Takeshi Tanimoto
| Cpt Miles T. Tanimoto | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
Military Service
- Rank: Captain
- Serial Number:
- Type: Navigator
- Squadron: 634th Combat Support Group (Often misidentified as 606th or 609th ACS)
Missions
25 Jul 1966 - Maj Duke and Cpt Tanimoto were flying aircraft #64-17643 when their plane experienced mechanical trouble during landing operations at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base. The plane crashed with the wheels down, but the nose gear stuck into the ground and slammed the nose and cockpit area into a raised berm, killing both men.
We have not seen the official accident report for this incident yet. Most sources attribute this accident to fuel starvation. It seems unlikely to us that experienced aviators would misjudge their fuel levels so badly. We offer a second, unconfirmed, hypothesis. The planes in Thailand suffered from many of the same problems that the planes in the Congo were plagued with - high heat and humidity, which adversely impacted the air-cooled engines, resulting in overheating. Engineers in the Congo devised a solution, a larger, scoop-style air intake on top of the engine - dubbed the "Congo Cowl" by air crews. This in-field modifcation allowed the engines to cool better. The plane that crashed in this incident was one of the first ones sent to Southeast Asia, and as such did not receive this modification. Being summer in Thailand, the environmental conditions there could have caused the engines to overheat and shut off, resulting in loss of airspeed and altitude. Again, this is speculation on our part and purely a hypothesis that must be tested. However, it seems more likely to us than an experienced aircrew running out of fuel.
Citations & Awards
- Air Medal
- Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Air Force Longevity Award
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Planes
Crew
Disposition
- KIA 25 Jul 1966
He is listed on the Vietnam Wall, Panel 9E, Line 76.
Personal Life
Miles Takeshi Tanimoto was born 20 Jul 1936 in Lawai, Kauai County, HI.
Family
Images
