Captain Robert Ira Bush, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Wisconsin, was a member of the 14th Air Commando Wing. On June 9, 1966, he piloted an A-1E Skyraider (tail number 52-133899, call sign "Sandy 41") as part of a four-aircraft search and rescue mission to pick up a downed pilot in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XE 417 075. The rescue was successful, but as the flight left the target area, another aircraft in the flight collided with Capt Bush’s Skyraider. Both aircraft crashed in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XE 420 095. Captain Bush was witnessed to bail out of his plane before it went down; however, something was tangled in his parachute, which failed to fully deploy before he hit the ground. Hostile forces in the area prevented search efforts for Capt Bush, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Captain Bush 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 Active Pursuit.

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.