U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Robert E. Oxford, unaccounted for from World War II, has now been identified.
On Jan. 25, 1944, Oxford was a member of 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomb Group, 14th Air Force, and was aboard a B-24J Liberator aircraft, departing Kunming, China, on a supply mission to Chabua, India. Despite initially favorable weather, conditions deteriorated rapidly and the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination. Four additional aircraft were also lost during their approach to Chabua. Due to the inability to pinpoint a loss location, no search efforts were initiated. The following day, the War Department Adjutant General's Office issued a finding of death for the servicemen onboard.
The American Battle Monuments Commission memorialized Oxford by including his name on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, the Philippines.
On April 14, 2016, evidence recovered during field excavations were received and accessioned into the DPAA Laboratory for scientific analysis.
DNA analysis and circumstantial evidence were used in the identification of his remains.
Interment services are pending.
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