WASHINGTON –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Jason K. Goldwater, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, killed during World War II, was accounted for May 1, 2025.
Goldwater's family recently received their full briefing on his identification, therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared.
In the summer of 1943, Goldwater was a member of 69th Bombardment Squadron, 42d Bombardment Group (Medium). He was killed on July 10 when his North American B-25C-1 Mitchell medium bomber crashed on takeoff from Carney Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. His remains were not recovered after the war, and he was declared nonrecoverable.
In 2017, Project Recover, an external provider to the DPAA, conducted an investigation in the Solomon Islands and located aircraft wreckage consistent with a B-25 in close proximity to Goldwater’s reported crash location. In 2022, after receiving the data from Project Recover, historians and archaeologists at DPAA began excavating the site. The team recovered possible human remains, osseous material, possible osseous material, and material evidence, including life support equipment. Excavations continued until 2024, and all evidence recovered was accessioned into the DPAA Laboratory for analysis.
To identify Goldwater’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as material evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA analysis.
Goldwater’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, along with the others who are still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
Goldwater will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on a date yet to be determined.
For family and funeral information, contact the Army Casualty office at (800) 892-2490.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, https://www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaa, https://www.instagram.com/dodpaa/, or https://x.com/dodpaa.
Read Goldwater’s initial ID announcement here: Goldwater.