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. Lothar Terla was an F4 pilot assigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn Airbase, Thailand. On March 9, 1970, he was assigned an operational mission which took him over Attopeu Province, Laos. His bombardier/navigator on the flight was 1Lt. Larry W.
Cotten.
When the aircraft was about 10 miles southeast of
Chavane, it was hit by enemy fire and crashed. An electronic search was made of the area to locate the crash site and any survivors, but none were found. The crashed aircraft was later found, and it was determined that Cotten and Terla could not have survived the incident. This determination was made on unspecified information which was received by the Department of the Air Force.
The Air Force believes that Cotten and Turla did not survive. They are listed among the missing because their remains were never found. They are among nearly 600 Americans who were lost in Laos. Since the U.S. did not recognize the communist government faction which captured and held Americans in Laos, no negotiations were conducted to secure their freedom. Consequently, not a single American held by the Lao was ever released.
Tragically, many authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still alive in captivity in Southeast Asia today. What must they be thinking of us? What will our next generation say if called to fight if we are unable to bring these men home from Southeast Asia?
Incidental Information
Click
Here to view a queried report of messages and
files concerning Capt. Terla from the POW/MIA
Database at the Library of Congress's Federal
Research Division. (Links
will open in New Browser Window).
You can run queries on various name spellings to view the messages.
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Honored
on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 13W - - Line 101
|
The VietNam Veterans' Memorial
Wall Page
Did you serve with this HERO? Is
he Family, an old friend, or a High School Sweetheart? Is there something
special you would like to share about Capt. Terla -- If so, I would like to hear
about it and post it on this page!!
Please send me an e-mail
