indianexpress.com :: US to scour India jungles for lost WW2 planes, men

US to scour India jungles for lost WW2 planes, men

Reuters

Posted online: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 1755 hrs IST

New Delhi, March 19:
The United States will search for remains of several World War Two aircraft and airmen lost over the forested mountains of India's northeast, a US commander said on Wednesday.

The US military says it lost some 430 Americans in 90 planes in India while they were on missions to resupply China's besieged army in the city of Kunming, desperately trying to hold out against the invading Japanese during World War Two.

The wreckage of six US planes have been found in the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh, giving the US Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Accounting Command (JPAC) a starting point for its first recovery mission in India.

JPAC's commander, Rear Admiral Donna L. Crisp, met Indian defence officials on Wednesday, and said she was hopeful of mounting the expedition before the snows set in 2008.

"We go as a team into the areas to find the remains," said Crisp, adding the Indian military would also help with the search.

She also appealed to Indians in areas where the planes are believed to have crashed to report sightings of any wreckage.

If remains are recovered, the JPAC will conduct DNA tests on the bones to match them with records of the crewmen's relatives. All will be entitled to a burial with military honours at a National Cemetery if relatives wish.

The JPAC has run similar recovery operations in Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, China and several countries in Europe.

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US to scour India jungles for lost WW2 planes, men Reuters Posted online: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 1755 hrs IST New Delhi, March 19: The United States will search for remains of several World War Two aircraft and airmen lost over the forested mountains of India's northeast, a US commander said on Wednesday. The US military says it lost some 430 Americans in 90 planes in India while they were on missions to resupply China's besieged army in the city of Kunming, desperately trying to hold out against the invading Japanese during World War Two. The wreckage of six US planes have been found in the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh, giving the US Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Accounting Command (JPAC) a starting point for its first recovery mission in India. JPAC's commander, Rear Admiral Donna L. Crisp, met Indian defence officials on Wednesday, and said she was hopeful of mounting the expedition before the snows set in 2008. "We go as a team into the areas to find the remains," said Crisp, adding the Indian military would also help with the search. She also appealed to Indians in areas where the planes are believed to have crashed to report sightings of any wreckage. If remains are recovered, the JPAC will conduct DNA tests on the bones to match them with records of the crewmen's relatives. All will be entitled to a burial with military honours at a National Cemetery if relatives wish. The JPAC has run similar recovery operations in Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, China and several countries in Europe.