[Cagey]

This story was sent to me by a man who served with this Pilot.

[Cagey]

Laraine Beal of Sanford never expected to have a part in the identifi­cation of the remains of her great uncle, Second Lt. Robert Hoyle Upchurch, whose pictures she holds. The young Flying Tiger pilot died in 1944 when his plan crashed in China following a dogfight with a Japanese plane. He was listed as missing in action for 62 years, until the Army found his remains and identified them by matching their DNA with DNA from Beal and her sister, Karan Lake, of Carthage.

[NormsRevenge]

Welcome home, 2nd Lt. Upchurch
RIP

[SandRat]

May he rest in peace. Hope Phred Phelps' wackos don't show up to protest.

[radar101]

THANK YOU for posting this.

[Snoopers-868th]

I presume this was the work of some (not the government) who have done everything they can to find missing military from the past. So glad they are out there working for the families. Thank you whoever it was. Families need to know what happened to their loved ones.

[American Quilter]

Some 60 years later, last May, remains of an American pilot were discovered in a Chinese cemetery. The unknown pilot had been buried with full honors beneath a cross whose Chinese characters identified him only as “American pilot.” Villagers, hearing of the crash, had trekked over mountain paths to bring back the body for a funeral and burial. One 79-year-old man remembered it all, though he had been a boy at the time.

What a heartwarming story. Bless those Chinese villagers, and welcome home, Lt Upchurch.

[wolficatZ]

Free movie: 14th AAF in China (40 min)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1835435072057474675&q=air+force+duration%3Along&pl=true

[DJ Taylor]

ping

[exnavy]

I am in awe of the greatest generation and all they have done for their country, and the world. RIP airman.