Remains of Cleveland airman identified 80 years after WWII crash, returning home

Archaeology Magazine ^ | March 6, 2025 | Dario Radley

[SunkenCiv]

After nearly 80 years, the remains of 2nd Lt. Robert T. McCollum, a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier who went missing in action during World War II, have been identified. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) officially confirmed McCollum’s identification on December 10, 2024, bringing long-awaited closure to his family.

McCollum, from Cleveland, Ohio, served in the 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 2nd Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force...

In 2019, divers from Denmark discovered wreckage of a WWII plane near the last known location of McCollum’s plane, leading to a significant breakthrough. Among the items retrieved was a .50-caliber machine gun, its serial number partially matching that of McCollum’s aircraft, although it was partly damaged after years in the sea. Consequently, a multinational recovery operation was launched, involving Project Recover, the University of Delaware, Trident Archaeology, Wessex Archaeology, the Royal Danish Navy, and the Langelands Museum.

Underwater surveys and excavations took place between 2021 and 2024; unexploded ordnance was cleared from the site, the wreckage was mapped, and human remains, material evidence, and ID tags were recovered. DPAA scientists analyzed the recovered remains using dental and anthropological assessments, as well as mitochondrial and autosomal DNA testing, leading to McCollum’s official identification.

McCollum’s name has long been inscribed on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England, but now a rosette will be placed next to his name to signify that he has been identified and accounted for. Future plans are underway for his burial in San Jose, California; his family can now finally put him to rest with honor.

[fidelis]

Formerly, Air Force enlisted personnel were still called “Soldiers.”

Except that soldiers (and Navy pilots) who flew planes and were part of an aircrew were also informally called "airmen" (for example, the "Tuskegee Airmen"). That's clearly the sense that the article writer mentions it, as she does not capitalize it as is done when describing U.S. Air Force Airmen.

[ansel12]

I understand informal usage but the Archaeology Magazine writer should have been more precise and informative by not misleading today’s ignorant readers into thinking the soldier died fighting as an Air Force pilot.

[jagusafr]

The Air Force was created in 1947 and the new military branch replaced “soldier” with “airman” in 1950, before that they were known as soldiers.

Formally, yes. Colloquially (within the brotherhood), they referred to themselves with pride as airmen

[ansel12]

Whether your claim is true or not, it doesn’t change the truth of post 22.