Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Robert W. Ward, missing from World War II, has now been accounted for.
On Dec. 23, 1944, Ward was assigned to the 559th Bombardment Squadron, 387th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. Ward was the co-pilot of a B-26C Marauder, with eight other crew members, that crashed after being struck by enemy fire while on a bombing mission against enemy forces near Philippsweiler, Germany. Ward and one other of the nine-member crew were reported killed in action.
Between June 2010 and July 2011, two DoD recovery teams excavated the suspected crash site, recovering human remains and aircraft wreckage.
Lab analysis, in conjunction with the totality of circumstantial evidence available, established Ward’s remains were included.
Interment services are pending.
Welcome home and rest in peace, 2nd Lt. Ward.