P-47 PDF file

[NUPPOL]

http://historyflight.com/nw/docs/P47...edactedPro.pdf

[Larry]

Whenever I see just a link I think perhaps there should be a note to say what it is for a P-47 - is it a film or a manual ?

[Peter Randall]

It's a report on a crash recovery of P-47 and some human remains. I'm still trying to fathom out why it seems necessary to conceal the pilot's name and unit and the P-47 serial number. It took me all of three minutes to work it out!
Peter

[dp_burke]

It wouldn't hurt when pasting these links to provide some little description of what they contain, or why you think we should read them.

[ssg keay]

The reason the name of the pilot and the serial number are withheld is due to the remains of the pilot not having been identified yet by JPAC in Hawaii and releasing this information would be unprofessional until "official" identification has been performed and the relatives informed. Danny

[Peter Randall]

Yes, agreed Danny but from reading the .pdf I was under the impresion that the next of kin had already been involved. When they give the date, the fact that it was due to "friendly fire" and refer to a publication on the unit, it can only refer to one individual. So, unprofessional or not, I will not be alone in now knowing the name and other details relating to it from the information disclosed. Which of course begs the question, why publish the report before JPAC confirmation is received?
Peter

[ssg keay]

The report was actually published for internal use and to be presented to JPAC. Why it was placed on the net I am not sure and the person to ask is currently out in the Pacific, so not available. It is not so much the unprofessional (it was the first word that came to mind, but maybe not the best) aspect as that those who were involved in this recovery, are not supposed to get involved in publishing (or revealing) the name of the pilot until final ID has been performed.

I do understand the government’s policy in that they do not want a family’s hopes raised until they have positive ID. Now, in a lot of cases, this is a clear cut case, especially when the circumstance of loss and name of pilot were already known minutes after the crash, but he then was never recovered. Or, when during the recovery operation you find several items clearly identifying the individual, be it pilot, or ground troop. In such cases I almost feel the DNA testing is almost a waste of tax payer’s money, especially when the family does not require DNA testing as proof of ID.

And yes I do agree, a bit of research answers those questions easily, but then….the researcher had the option to do the leg work without History Flight “actually” publishing it themselves.
The family was contacted in respect of requesting next-of-kin to provide a DNA sample to the responsible office. To my knowledge, they put two and two together and thus found out.

[ssg keay]

And besides..I have to giggle about NUPPOL's posts..often no more then a link.