Remains of WW2 Airmen Identified

11 Apr 2007

The United States Department of Defense's POW/Missing Personnel Office announced on 10 Apr 2007 that the remains of ten Americans missing since WW2 have been identified and will be returned to the US for burial. While on a strike mission against Hollandia on 16 Apr 1944, the B-24 Liberator bomber crashed in Morobe province, New Guinea after encountering bad weather. The crash site was found in 2001 and the remains were found in 2002. Initial identifications were made by studying the dog tags and other crew effects found at the site, and they were later confirmed by mitochondrial DNA and dental records.

The Army Air Force men identified are:

2nd Lieutenant Raymond A. Cooley of Leary, Texas
2nd Lieutenant Dudley R. Ives of Ingleside, Texas
2nd Lieutenant George E. Archer of Cushing, Oklahoma
2nd Lieutenant Donald F. Grady of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Technical Sergeant Richard R. Sargent of North Girard, Pennsylvania
Technical Sergeant Steve Zayac of Cleveland, Ohio
Staff Sergeant Joseph M. King of Detroit, Michigan
Staff Sergeant Thomas G. Knight of Brookfield, Illinois
Staff Sergeant Norman L. Nell of Tarkio, Missouri
Staff Sergeant Blair W. Smith of Nu Mine, Pennsylvania

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
8 Aug 2007 07:30:34 AM

May all those whove been MIA all these, and are found in remote locations far, far away, may they finally rest in peace.

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