Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. WWII pilot remains Detroit
2. Detroit bombing mission pilot identification
Military scientists have identified the remains of Army Air Forces pilot, 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. from Detroit, who died during a WWII bombing mission in Southeast Asia. McLauchlen’s B-24J Liberator bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire during a mission targeting a railroad yard in Myanmar in 1943. His remains were recently identified and will be buried at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. The DPAA recovered remains in Myanmar in 1947, believed to be from the crash, but they were unidentified until now. Through DNA and anthropological analysis, McLauchlen’s remains were positively identified, bringing closure to his family after nearly eight decades.
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The Discovery of 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr.’s Remains
In a groundbreaking development, military scientists have recently identified the remains of Army Air Forces pilot 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. from Detroit, Michigan, more than eight decades after he tragically lost his life during a World War II bombing mission in Southeast Asia.
A Hero’s Journey
2nd Lt. McLauchlen was just 25 years old when he bravely piloted a B-24J Liberator bomber on December 1, 1943, as part of a bombing mission from India to a railroad yard in Myanmar, then known as Burma. During the mission, his plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire, causing the left wing to catch fire.
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The Mysterious Disappearance
Following the attack, McLauchlen’s aircraft was last seen with three enemy planes pursuing it into the clouds. The crew members were declared missing in action, leaving their fate shrouded in mystery for decades.
The Long-Awaited Closure
After years of uncertainty, in 1947, remains believed to be from a B-24 Liberator crash were recovered in present-day Myanmar. Unfortunately, these remains could not be positively identified and were laid to rest as unknown soldiers in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
A Remarkable Discovery
Fast forward to October 2020, when one set of these unidentified remains was exhumed for further analysis by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) scientists. Through meticulous anthropological, circumstantial, and DNA analysis, the remains were positively identified as belonging to 2nd Lt. McLauchlen.
A Fitting Tribute
After decades of uncertainty, 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. will finally be laid to rest with full military honors at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas this summer. This long-overdue tribute serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by brave servicemen like McLauchlen during World War II.
As we honour the memory of 2nd Lt. McLauchlen and his fellow crew members, we also pay tribute to all those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. Their bravery and selflessness will never be forgotten.