This Military Service Page was created/owned by
A3C Michael S. Bell (Unit Historian)
to remember
Altus, Robert Wayne (Gunfighter 61), Capt.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2), and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and
high altitudes. The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions, which improved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.
Capt. Robert W. Altus was the pilot and 1Lt. William Phelps his weapons/systems operator which departed Da Nang Airbase as part of a multi-aircraft flight on an operational mission over Laos on November 23, 1971. When the flight was about 20 miles northwest of Chavane in Saravane
Province, Laos, a large explosion on the ground was seen by flight members. Efforts to raise Altus and Phelps by radio failed. No parachutes were seen, and no emergency radio beeper signals heard. Both Althus and Phelps were classified Missing in Action.
This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii
Other Comments:
According to Vietnam War U.S. Military Casualties, 1956-1998 and according to the Social Security Death Index, Capt. Altus' date of death is listed as April 16, 1979.
------ "I never knew you but feel deeply for your sacrifice even though I hail from Australia and we may be distant cousins. I am keen on keeping your memory alive and ask if anyone has details to please contact me especially images as I have been keen on compiling a booklet on "Bob" and another member of my family who was sacrificed during WW2. I am an ex Aussie Air Force member so the remembrance is deep and I do remember him during our Anzac days here in Australia. Thank You! Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten Bob!" Posted by: Steve Altus Email: steleo@three.com.au Relationship: Distant Relative Wednesday, May 27, 2009
------ "Bobby was my pilot in F-4 training at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tuscon, AZ. I was his back seater. We were the best of friends, as close to being brothers as you could get. I was stationed at Ubon and he was at Danang. We partied together at Ubon about week before he went down. When I heard that he was MIA, I searched for the wreckage the following day, but 200-300 ft jungle canopy prevented any positive results. I still think about him almost every day." Posted by: Denny Stanford Email: dlstanford@earthlink.net Relationship: We served together Sunday, October 26, 2003
------- From Christine Allard, USAFA on 11 Jun 09: "I am sorry to say that I have very limited information about Capt. Robert Altus. I was fortunate enough to receive his POW/MIA bracelet. I received one email from a cousin of his, which I have copied below along with her email address. Hopefully this will help you get more information and a photo of Capt. Altus. Please let me know if this helps." All the best, Christine "Robert Altus was or is my first cousin....he is the only child of my dad's sister and her husband. he is three years younger than me and he went missing the year i graduated from college. my dad and Robert's parents are dead now but robert is still in my thoughts and i wonder if he could still be in Laos wondering why the U.S. doesn't do something. He grew up in Oregon and most of the relatives live in Texas so tho' we were a large close family we didn't see he a lot. I am pleased that you wore his bracelet....thanks Ann Deiterman (his mother's maiden name) Tschoerner" Paris, tx ann.tschoerner@gmail.com -------
During the wet season from May to October 1971, when bad weather restricted air attacks along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. North Vietnamese troops lengthened and improved roads and added to their air defenses. For the first time, they installed surface-to-air missile sites in Laos. Meanwhile, the USAF flew as many interdiction missions in the Laotian panhandle as weather permitted.
Allied pilots also supported Royal Laotian forces struggling to hold the Bolovens Plateau. an area in the panhandle encompassing the towns of
Saravane. 315 miles southeast of Vientiane; Pakse, 60 miles southwest of Saravane; and Attopeu, about 65 miles southeast of Saravane. On May 17, 1971, the North Vietnamese took the last Laotian positions on the Bolovens Plateau; Royal Laotian forces subsequently began an offensive to recapture the area. On July 28 they recaptured Saravane and began an advance on Palt Song, a hamlet some 30 miles east of Palrse and 35 miles south of Saravane. The Laotians recaptured Pak Song on September 14, The royal forces were successful despite the fact that poor weather and lack of coordination between the Laotian govemment and the Seventh Air Force combined to limit the U.S. role to occasional close air support and the airlift of some troops and supplies.
In northern Laos the Seventh Air Force also aided Royal and irregular Laotian troops which recaptured most of the Plain of Jars during the summer of 1971. Unfortunately, the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese remained entrenched on the northem and eastem rims. On September 26 the Laotians recaptured their former base at Muong Sotti. Then, in mid-September. as the roads dried. the Pathet Lao ltd North Vietnamese began moving men and supplies from North Vietnam into northern Laos preparatory no a new offensive. To counter this threat, USAF tactical
aircraft flew interdiction and close air support missions during the day. and at night AC-130 and AC-119 gunships flew armed reconnaissance and close air support missions for the Laotian government and irregular forces.
Throughout the fall of 1971 the USAF also conducted periodic raids on North Vietnam. For example, on September 21 almost 200 fighter-bombers escorted by 50 other aircraft dropped bombs on petrol and logistical storage areas and military barracks near Dong Hoi. The bombers using all-weather tactics and equipment, achieved excellent results despite the poor weather. The all-weather tactics. based on the
use of advanced electronic equipment for navigation and target selection. would serve the USAF well in subsequent missions against North
Vietnam.
In Cambodia the USAF flew frequent interdiction missions and occasional close air support missions. On June 2, 1971, U.S. bombers and
helicopters struck Communist troop concentrations to forestall an imminent invasion of South Vietnam. The ARVN reentered Cambodia on September 20, as it had done a number of times since June 1970, This time the troops cleared the road between Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, 50 miles northwest of Saigon, and Krek, Cambodia, about 30 miles northwest of Tay Ninh and 70 miles east of Phnom Penh, capital of
Cambodia. The USAF supported this operation with tactical air strikes and B-52 missions.
During COMMANDO HUNT VI, U.S. forces continued to withdraw from South Vietnam. On July 12. 1971, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing inactivated at Phan Rang Air Base, on the coast 160 miles nonheast of Saigon. The Seventh Air Force received a new Commander. Gen. John D. Lavelle. on August 1, The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing inactivated at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon on the last day of the month. Shortly afterwards the USAF transferred operation of Bien Boa Air Base to the Vietnamese Air Force and on September 20 the 14th Special Operations Wing inactivated at Phan Rang. The VNAF, meantime, activated several squadrons to operate aircraft received from the
USAF, such as the AC-119 gunship, and to perform new functions, such as airlifting fuel front 1 locale to another. By October 31, 1971, less than
200,000 U.S. troops remained in South Vietnam.
