Missing WWII Airman Officially Accounted for Nearly 80 Years After Plane Shot Down
The remains of U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Franklin P. Hall were identified in July 2023, defense officials said
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Franklin P. Hall
A missing United States airman is finally accounted for nearly 80 years after his death during World War II, according to defense officials.
U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Franklin P. Hall, of Leesburg, Fla., was killed during World War II at the age of 21, according to a news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Hall was a left waist gunner on a B-24D Liberator named Queen Marlene “when his plane was attacked by German air forces near Équennes-Éramecourt” in France on Jan. 21, 1944.
However, Halls was not officially accounted for until July 13, 2023 — 79 years after he died.
Hall was deemed “non-recoverable” on March 1, 1951, following a search for his remains following the war, DPPA said.
Two sets of remains were found buried in Normandy American Cemetery that could be linked to Hall, according to the agency.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In April 2018, the remains were disinterred and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory, where one set was eventually confirmed to belong to Hall. Scientists used anthropological and DNA analysis to identify the remains.
A rosette will now be placed next to Hall’s name at the Tablets of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery in France “to indicate he has been accounted for,” DPAA said.
Hall was assigned to the 66th Bombardment Squadron of the 44th Bombardment Group in the European Theater, according to the defense agency.
The DPPA has accounted for more than 1,500 missing soldiers since the efforts to locate them began in 1973, according to the agency’s website. More than 72,000 still remain missing.
Read the original article on People.