WW2 airman found in New Guinea - Aircraft of World War II

syscom3 · 03-31-2006, 09:00 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060331/...ins_identified

SUFFOLK, Va. - Human remains found in the wreckage of a World War II bomber in New Guinea have been identified as a 24-year-old airman who disappeared on a stormy night in 1943.

The remains of Charles "Buddy" Feucht were identified through DNA testing.

His sister Fern Lord, who had submitted a vial of her blood for DNA comparison, got the news Thursday.

"It's been so long," said Lord, 83. "Every day, you wake up and wonder if this is the one."

Feucht, a bombardier aboard a B-24 Liberator, was part of a formation looking for Japanese ships during a violent thunderstorm when his plane separated from the others to take a closer look at the water below. He and the rest of his nine-man crew vanished.

A hunter in the New Guinea jungle discovered the rusted wreckage of the plane in 2002. He collected a human bone and a handful of metal ID tags and delivered them to the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea, along with the plane's tail number and location.

An excavation crew traveled to the site the following year and found more bones, teeth and ID bracelets inside the shattered cockpit.

Johnny Johnson, a specialist with the Army's Casualty and Mortuary Affairs operations center in Alexandria, declined Friday to say whether the others had been identified because other crewmates' families have not been contacted.

Buddy Feucht was one of two sons in the war. The family's farmhouse in the small Ohio town of Reynoldsburg was never locked, in case he came home. Today, Lord and her 85-year-old sister, Mary, are the only remaining members of his immediate family.

"God kept us on this earth just long enough so we could find out what happened to him," Lord said. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry."

Feucht's remains will be flown under military escort to Ohio, where he will be buried with full military honors beside his parents.

alanbagley · 12-10-2008, 05:03 PM

My buddy Troy Martin also went down on New Guinea in his P-38. I thought they found his body. Do you have any info on this?
Thanks,
Alan Bagley

syscom3 · 12-10-2008, 07:42 PM

The guys at this website might have some info.

They are very knowledgeable about MIA aircraft and the aircrews in the SW Pacific.

PACIFIC WRECKS - World War II Pacific

Micdrow · 12-10-2008, 08:07 PM

Liberando · 12-11-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syscom3

The guys at this website might have some info.

They are very knowledgeable about MIA aircraft and the aircrews in the SW Pacific.

PACIFIC WRECKS - World War II Pacific

Do they have a similiar sight for the European theatre?

Uncle Bill

ToughOmbre · 12-11-2008, 02:38 PM

Another warrior finally coming home.

TO

Soundbreaker Welch? · 12-11-2008, 02:48 PM

Pretty amazing what DNA can do in a case like this. In olden times, a family would never really know if those bones were their son or brother.

03-31-2006, 09:00 PM	#1
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,277	WW2 airman found in New Guinea http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060331/...ins_identified SUFFOLK, Va. - Human remains found in the wreckage of a World War II bomber in New Guinea have been identified as a 24-year-old airman who disappeared on a stormy night in 1943. The remains of Charles "Buddy" Feucht were identified through DNA testing. His sister Fern Lord, who had submitted a vial of her blood for DNA comparison, got the news Thursday. "It's been so long," said Lord, 83. "Every day, you wake up and wonder if this is the one." Feucht, a bombardier aboard a B-24 Liberator, was part of a formation looking for Japanese ships during a violent thunderstorm when his plane separated from the others to take a closer look at the water below. He and the rest of his nine-man crew vanished. A hunter in the New Guinea jungle discovered the rusted wreckage of the plane in 2002. He collected a human bone and a handful of metal ID tags and delivered them to the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea, along with the plane's tail number and location. An excavation crew traveled to the site the following year and found more bones, teeth and ID bracelets inside the shattered cockpit. Johnny Johnson, a specialist with the Army's Casualty and Mortuary Affairs operations center in Alexandria, declined Friday to say whether the others had been identified because other crewmates' families have not been contacted. Buddy Feucht was one of two sons in the war. The family's farmhouse in the small Ohio town of Reynoldsburg was never locked, in case he came home. Today, Lord and her 85-year-old sister, Mary, are the only remaining members of his immediate family. "God kept us on this earth just long enough so we could find out what happened to him," Lord said. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry." Feucht's remains will be flown under military escort to Ohio, where he will be buried with full military honors beside his parents. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

12-10-2008, 07:42 PM	#3
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,277	The guys at this website might have some info. They are very knowledgeable about MIA aircraft and the aircrews in the SW Pacific. PACIFIC WRECKS - World War II Pacific __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

12-10-2008, 08:07 PM	#4
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	__________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

12-11-2008, 02:38 PM	#6
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,230	Another warrior finally coming home. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

12-11-2008, 02:48 PM	#7
Soundbreaker Welch? Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,893	Pretty amazing what DNA can do in a case like this. In olden times, a family would never really know if those bones were their son or brother. __________________ "His motor's conked out!" "What's the differance, they're all Nazis!" "Luke, shut up!" "Fear the hook!" "Oh.....I wanna fly." "You mean the kind that go under water and fly up the stairs?" "What you doing? Oh Nooooo!"

12-10-2008, 05:03 PM	#2
alanbagley Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1	My buddy Troy Martin also went down on New Guinea in his P-38. I thought they found his body. Do you have any info on this? Thanks, Alan Bagley

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