Accident – Death – Obituary News : Military researchers have successfully identified the remains of an Army Air Forces pilot from Michigan who tragically lost his life during a World War II bombing mission in Southeast Asia over 80 years ago. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recently confirmed that 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. of Detroit, who was just 25 years old at the time of his death, has finally been identified and will be laid to rest this summer at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.
**The Tragic Mission**
McLauchlen served as the pilot of a B-24J Liberator bomber on December 1, 1943, when the fateful mission took place. The bombing run originated from India and was aimed at a railroad yard in Myanmar, which was then known as Burma. During the mission, the B-24J Liberator was hit by anti-aircraft fire, causing the left wing of the aircraft to catch fire. Despite the crew’s efforts, the plane was unable to evade the enemy fire.
**The Mysterious Disappearance**
After the B-24J Liberator was struck, it was last seen with three enemy aircraft tailing it into the clouds. The crew members on board, including McLauchlen, were declared missing in action following the incident. Despite search efforts, their whereabouts remained unknown for decades.
**The Discovery**
In 1947, remains believed to be from individuals involved in a potential B-24 Liberator crash were recovered in what is now Myanmar. Unfortunately, due to the lack of advanced identification techniques at the time, the remains could not be positively identified and were interred as unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
**The Breakthrough**
In a significant breakthrough in October 2020, one set of these unidentified remains was exhumed and sent for analysis by scientists at the DPAA. Through a combination of anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence, material evidence, and DNA analysis, the remains were positively identified as those of John E. McLauchlen Jr.
The confirmation of McLauchlen’s identity has brought closure to his family and loved ones after decades of uncertainty. His upcoming burial at Fort Leavenworth will serve as a final tribute to his sacrifice and bravery during one of the darkest periods in human history..