Remains of World War II aviator recovered and identified

HOUSTON — The remains of a military pilot from Texas missing since his plane was shot down in France during World War II have been recovered and identified.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on Monday announced the remains are 22-year-old Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell of Houston. Cornwell was accounted for on July 25.

RELATED

Long after they died, military sees surge in identifications of the fallen in past conflicts

Officials believe remains of nearly half of the 83,000 unidentified service members killed in World War II and more recent wars could be identified and returned to relatives.

Cornwell in January 1944 was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force. He was piloting a Supermarine Spitfire when the aircraft was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France, during a battle with a German plane.

A French researcher in October 2016 contacted U.S. authorities about a possible aircraft crash site near his home in that village. Cornwell’s remains were positively identified this year using DNA and dental analysis.

In Other News

Advocates urge Austin to act on active duty obesity ‘epidemic’

A new letter urges defense leaders to do more to prevent, identify and treat obesity in the ranks.

The Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient died rescuing Marines

When asked if he could go back and extract the overwhelmed Marines from Guadalcanal, the 22-year-old Munro reportedly gave a confident, “Hell, yeah!”

VA expands benefits options for vets with other-than-honorable status

Veterans Affairs officials are updating rules regarding benefits eligibility to include more individuals with other-than-honorable discharges.

Senators unsure about House plan to boost troop pay, housing stipends

House lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to increase junior enlisted pay and military housing stipends, but the idea could face opposition in the Senate

No paper, no plastic: Be ready as commissaries adopt reusable bags

Reusable bags can be more expensive for commissary shoppers up front, but more cost-effective in the long run.

Load More