MIA Update - March 27, 2020

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced one new identification, and four burial update for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from WWII and the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Earl W. Smith, 22, was a pilot assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force. On Aug. 20, 1943, Smith was piloting a P-38 Lightning fighter on a test flight near Port Moresby, Australian Territory of Papua (current day Papua New Guinea), when he crashed into the harbor off of Paga Point. Smith did not eject and his body was not recovered. Interment services are pending. Read about Smith https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2123071/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-smith-e/.
-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Earl F. Ferguson, 26, of Philip, South Dakota, was a pilot assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 aircraft on which Ferguson was the co-pilot crashed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. Ferguson will be buried in his hometown. The date has yet to be decided. Read about Ferguson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1991257/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-ferguson-e/.
-- Army Maj. Harvey H. Storms, 34, of McAllen, Texas, was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which was part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 1, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Storms will be buried June 12, 2020, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Read about Storms https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1921429/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-storms-h/.
-- Army Cpl. Ralph L. Cale, 19, of Covington, Virginia, was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. His remains could not be recovered following the attack and he was not reported as a prisoner of war. Cale will be buried Aug. 14, 2020, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Read about Calehttps://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/1932911/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-cale-r/.
-- U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. George M. Johnson, 23, of Seaford, Delaware, was a member of the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group, stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, when the B-24J bomber he was co-piloting crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Johnson and the nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed. Johnson will be buried May 8, 2020, in his hometown. Read about Johnson https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2041019/pilot-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-johnson-g/.