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 -------
