On November 17, 1968, an F-4B Phantom II (bureau number 149456) with two crew members took off as the leader of a section of aircraft on a bombing mission against enemy positions near Chu Lai, South Vietnam. After releasing its ordnance over the target, other aircraft in the flight saw the Phantom burst into flames for unknown reasons. The aircraft disintegrated over (GC) BS 320 620, and no ejections were seen prior to the crash. Eventually, the remains of one of the crew members were discovered near the crash site, but the other man aboard the Phantom remains unaccounted for. 

Captain Paul David Derby entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Wisconsin and served in Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Air Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of the Phantom when it crashed and was the crew member who could not be located following the incident. Further attempts to recover his remains were unsuccessful. Today, Captain Derby is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.