Airman discovered in glacier identified

Fresno Bee ^ | November 3, 2005 | Mark Grossi

[SpringheelJack]

The body found last month in a glacier east of Fresno belongs to an airman killed in a 1942 plane crash at Kings Canyon National Park, military officials confirmed Wednesday.

Scientists identified a name on the nearly obliterated tag attached to the uniform on the body, said the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command, the military unit in charge of recovering and identifying the remains of lost soldiers.

"The name on the badge matches a name they also found on the clothing," said Army Maj. Rumi Nielson-Green.

The body belongs to one of four servicemen aboard an AT-7 training flight from Mather Field in Sacramento. The plane crashed Nov. 18, 1942.

The pilot was 2nd Lt. William Gamber, 23, of Fayette, Ohio. The other three airmen were Army cadets: John Mortenson, 25, of Moscow, Idaho; Ernest Munn, 23, of St. Clairesville, Ohio; and Leo Mustonen, 22, of Brainerd, Minn.

The military will not release the name found on the body or notify next of kin until the identification process is completed. The process, which involves dental and biological analysis, could take weeks.

[feedback doctor]

Rest in Peace

[tongue-tied]

Local (Fresno) news said was down to four, but not sure yet. Did they finally figure out for sure?

[Fledermaus]

Wasn't this a TV show with Monte Markham?

[tongue-tied]

Never mind, read more fully. Still down to 4....getting closer.

[Andy from Beaverton]

We can't find this guy for 60 years, no wonder we can never find bigfoot.

[sierrahome]

I think Monte played a Yukon prospector frozen for 60 years.

[SpringheelJack]

Local (Fresno) news said was down to four, but not sure yet. Did they finally figure out for sure?

They've got a name from the effects found on the body, but they're going to run DNA tests just to make sure. They're going to keep mum on who they think it is until that's through.

[Fledermaus]

And his grandson. I was surprised I remembered his name much less the series. I used to watch it as a kid.

Majel Barrett was also on that show. I do remember I liked it.

[tongue-tied]

Ah, okay. They listed all four names on evening news, said actual identification would come later. Four families waiting for closure.

[JRios1968]

The body came through Travis AFB on its way to Hawaii. More than 100 Airmen from all units on-base stopped what they were doing that day to go pay their respects to their fellow Airman.

Picture of Travis AFB Airmen paying respect (Large picture)

Story: Travis assists in dignified transfer of unidentified remains

[Plutarch]

The Airman was one of thousands dying in U.S. training accidents during WWII. Check out the statistics for the Army Air Corp alone. They are staggering. The B-24 alone accounted for 2,796 fatalities occuring in the Continental U.S., or 2.8 times as many as we have lost in Iraq.

Airplane Accidents in Continental US, By Principal Model of Airplane - Number and Rate: 1942 to 1945

[demkicker]

Rest in peace, Lt. William Gamber. Your country sends a belated thank you....

[Plutarch]

Uh, make that 1.8 times. It is still a lot.

[speedy]

I think the show was called "The Second Hundred Years."

[SFConservative]

Uh, make that 1.4 times. It is still a lot.

[demkicker]

Huh?

[SFConservative]

He was trying to correct his post #12 but didn't quite get it done ...

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP Brave Protectors of Freedom

[Plutarch]

Uh, make that 1.4 times. It is still a lot.

Geez, I am messing up a simple calculation. It is 1.3726067746686 times as many.