P-47 PDF file

[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.