Accident – Death – Obituary News : **Detroit Military Scientist Identifies WWII Pilot’s Remains After 80 Years**
Military scientists have recently made a significant breakthrough in the case of Army Air Forces pilot, 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr., from Detroit, who tragically lost his life during a World War II bombing mission in Southeast Asia. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on Monday that Lt. McLauchlen’s remains were identified in January, marking the end of an 80-year-long search for answers.
**Burial of 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr.**
The remains of 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. will be laid to rest this summer at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, providing closure to his family and loved ones after decades of uncertainty. The news brings a sense of peace and honour to those who have waited patiently for this moment.
**The Tragic WWII Mission**
2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr., aged 25, was the pilot of a B-24J Liberator bomber during a daring mission on December 1, 1943, from India to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The mission aimed to target a vital railroad yard in the region, but tragedy struck when the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, causing the left wing to catch fire.
**The Search for Answers**
Following the incident, the crippled plane was last seen with three enemy aircraft pursuing it into the clouds, leading to the declaration of the crew members as missing in action. In 1947, the remains of eight individuals believed to be involved in a potential B-24 Liberator crash were recovered in present-day Myanmar. Unfortunately, they could not be identified at the time and were buried as unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
**Identification of Remains**
In a remarkable turn of events, one set of those remains was exhumed in October 2020 and sent for analysis by DPAA scientists. Through meticulous anthropological analysis, circumstantial and material evidence, as well as DNA testing, the remains were positively identified as those of 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr., bringing closure to a long-standing mystery.
The identification of Lt. McLauchlen’s remains serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by brave individuals during times of conflict, and highlights the unwavering commitment of military scientists to honouring and remembering those who gave their lives in service to their country..