N.C. man's remains buried after 57 years (missing WW2 soldier)

Durham Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) ^ | January 8, 2003 | The Associated Press

[Fred Mertz]

Excellent post.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

So many untold stories of heroism from WW II.

[Slip18]

Fabulous post, CD. Thank you.

There is one thing I don't get, though. If the helicopter was spotted in 1995, why did it take until 1999 to recover it? I'm just curious.

[Constitution Day]

There is one thing I don't get, though. If the helicopter was spotted in 1995, why did it take until 1999 to recover it? I'm just curious.

First of all the helicopter spotted IT (the bomber wreckage), not the other way around.

My guesses on the reasons for the delay are:

1) Suharto was still in power in 1995, and I think his successor, Megawati Sukarnoputri, took power in 1999 or thereabout.
The recovery of American bodies was probably very low on the dictator Suharto's "to-do" list.

2) The area is probably VERY remote.

[Lee'sGhost]

Can't remember the name, but it wasn't that one. It was billed as the only flying B-24 left, I believe. If you did a google search you could probably find something.

[Slip18]

Thanks, CD. Didn't know that.

[Constitution Day]

You're welcome.

I can't believe I remembered how to spell "Megawati Sukarnoputri".
I just love her name.

It trips off the tongue like India's Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Thanks for reading the thread.

[Slip18]

You've done well, CD. I would have spelled Megawati "megawatt." LOL!

[VOA]

Leave no man behind...

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for the correction, and for taking the time to read.

FRegards,
CD

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for checking it out.

Off topic, but will you be at CPAC? I'm coming.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My dad flew C-46's over the Hump in the China-Burma-India Campaign, was involved in a crash and treated for burns at an Army hospital in Texas. He never received Veterans' status or benefits because he was a civilian pilot for the AAF. There were many "silent birdmen" in the war (too old, couldn't pass physical, etc) who wore the uniform but without rank insignia.

[Constitution Day]

BTTT

[JudyB1938]

Your father was a very brave man. Only the BEST could do what he did. I know you are very proud of him. Have you made a website about him?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I've thought about it. He was born in 1906 and was a little too old to 'step forward' like men who were 15 and 20 years younger. He was a civilian pilot for China National Airlines Company, then owned by American Airlines (it had various owners, including Pan American)and had lived in Shanghai in the 1930's. He went back to Asia as a Department of the Army Civilian in 1950, and I was raised as an Army brat in Japan.
One of the more unusual stories concerned his relationship with a Masonic Lodge he joined in Shanghai in the 1930's. The lodge was moved out of China to Tykyo in 1949 when the Communists took over the country. Dad rejoined the same lodge when he came to Japan almost 15 years later.

[ramonde]

my father in law was a navigator on squirrly Shirley....
i have 3 pictures of it tried to post but it did not work..