WASHINGTON –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, accounted-for from World War II, are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Marine Corps Reserve 2nd Lt. Elwood R. Bailey, 22, of Parma, Michigan, accounted for Sept. 5, 2017, will be buried October 13 in his hometown. On August 24, 1942, Bailey was a member of Marine Fighting Squadron 223 (VMF-223), Marine Aircraft Group 23, (MAG-23). Bailey was piloting a F4F-4 Wildcat in aerial combat with Japanese Military Air Forces over Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, when he was reported missing in action after being shot down.
In October 1948, a Board of Review declared Bailey’s remains to be non-recoverable.
In April 2015, Clay Chualu, a resident of the Solomon Islands, turned over human remains and material evidence to DPAA. The remains had been reportedly recovered from a crash site of an F4F-4 aircraft located southwest of Mbarana Village. The remains were subsequently sent to DPAA for analysis.
To identify Bailey’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, which matched his records; as well as historical and material evidence.
DPAA is grateful to Mr. Clay Chualu for his assistance in this recovery.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are 72,810 service members still unaccounted for from World War II (approximately 26,000 are assessed as possibly-recoverable). Bailey’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site along with the other MIAs from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420/1169.
Bailey’s personal profile can be viewed at https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000Xf6aEAC