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Casualty Info
Home Town Pittsburgh
Last Address Takhli RTAFB, Thailand
Casualty Date Sep 29, 1972
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Vietnam
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
The F-111A was first used in SouthEast Asia (SEA) in Mar 1968 during Operation Combat Lancer and flew nearly 3000 missions during the war. After repeated problems and losses the aircraft was grounded. Extensive testing to work out bugs in the aircraft and to change a few procedures were undertaken by the manufacture and the US Air Force.
Col. William C. Coltman Sr. was one of those guys. He was an Air Force test pilot for the F-111A Ardvark and knew the airplane inside out. Attached to the 474th TFS Nellis AFB Nevada, after a tour in Viet Nam the then Maj, and his Squadron were getting the chance to do it again.
On September 25, 1972 48 F-111's of the 474 TFW deployed to Viet Nam in support of Operation Linebacker II.Arriving on September 27th. This was Maj. Coltmans second Combat Tour in Southeast Asia. The Major was a likable guy, the men that worked on his aircraft and new him at Nellis and Thakli said he was always just one of the guys, happy, helpful and fun to be around. "Wild Bill" Coltman made a name for himself at Nellis in 1967 as one of the first to test the new F-111 Tactical Fighter-Bomber, and then take into Combat in 1968. When ask to name the greatest fighter pilot who ever lived, he would respond, " Your Lookin at him".
On the night of September 28, 1972 Maj. Coltman as the Aircraft Commander and 1LT. Robert A Brett as the Mission Commander took off from Takhli AB on the First Night Strike Mission with the F-111 since their arrival on the 27th.
The night was heavy with rain and Thunder Storms in the area of operations and with the F-111's mission to fly low and fast they were out of radio contact within minutes. Their last known position was on the Red River about 10 miles southwest of the city of Yen Bai in North Vietnam but close to the Laotain border. When the aircraft failed to return from their mission, the two men were declared missing at the time of estimated fuel exhaustion.
The remains of Colonel William Clare Coltman Sr. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaina and 1st Lt. Robert A Brett were recovered in the Houaphan Province, Northern LAOS not Viet Nam and repatriated on August 28, 2000. Col. Coltmans remains were Identified in Feb. of 2002.He and Capt. Brett were buried together with full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia on April 3, 2002.
Note: Maj. Coltman received two promotions until the Secretary determined he was KIA.
