Honolulu, April 18, 2016 –
A solemn promise to those who serve is that they will return to the United States regardless of their condition. After seven decades, this promise has possibly come closer to being fulfilled for the crewmembers of a B-24 and C-109 aircraft that were lost in India in January 1944 and July 1945 respectively.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, U.S. Embassy New Delhi and the Government of India, held a repatriation ceremony Apr. 13 in New Delhi, India to pay full honors to what they believe are the possible remains of crew members. Attended by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, this event marks the first time the U.S. has repatriated remains from the country of India.
“It’s always an honor to be a part of these [ceremonies],” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Gregory Lynch. “To bring someone back from the battlefield is the highest honor we can do in DPAA. To be a part of that process from the research all the way to the repatriation ceremony is a real privilege.”
Remains from the B-24 bomber were recovered by a DPAA expeditionary team last fall. Eight personnel assigned to the 14th Air Force, 308th Bomb Group were aboard the aircraft at the time of its loss, with all unaccounted for. To recover the remains, the DPAA team navigated treacherous terrain to hike 9,000 feet above sea level in the Indian Himalayas. In order to potentially fulfill the nation’s promise to its service members, the team faced 30-60 degree inclines and falling debris from higher positions and braved some of the most severe conditions encountered by DPAA.
"This site was challenging because it was located on dangerous terrain, physically demanding, and was archaeologically complex," said Anthropologist, Dr. Meghan-Tomisita Cosgriff-Hernandez. "But, the team stayed mentally vigilant and committed to the mission, which helped us excavate the site to its evidentiary and archaeological boundaries."
Along with the remains from the B-24, the ceremony incorporated remains turned over from a third-party organization to the U.S. government. The remains are believed to belong to members of a four-man Army Air Force crew that was aboard a C-109 that crashed as it travelled from Jorhat, India to Hsinching, China.
"The significance of the unilateral turnover is that it really amplifies our growing partnerships and cooperation with India,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Book. “This partnership allows our mission to carry on in India without us physically being there. It really does show us that there are multiple ways we can work together to find more remains of our fallen in their country.”
Upon arrival at the DPAA lab in Hawaii, the remains will undergo DNA testing as well as dental and biological analysis.
“The successful closure of this mission, bringing remains home, is a major milestone in our quest to be able to work with the Indian government to be able to recover our missing personnel,” said Dr. John Byrd, DPAA’s Lab Director. “We have been working with the Indian government to set up procedures by which we can get remains released from the country and into our lab for testing. This was the first time that we have been able to exercise these new procedures that we developed with the India government for evaluating remains and returning them to the United States.”
The repatriation of these remains is in line with the DPAA’s mission to provide the fullest possible accounting of America’s missing to their families and the nation.
"This repatriation is one more step in the process of returning a missing service member home,” said Mr. Johnie Webb, Deputy Director of Outreach and Communication. “It was an honor to have the family members of the B-24 aircrew present in Hawaii when the remains arrived back on American soil. Even though these remains have yet to be identified, it is encouraging to know someone is being returned home.”