Robert Wayne Altus

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.