Still MIA over the British Isles.

[Alex Smart]

Still MIA over the British Isles .

ALLISON, ROBERT C. S/SGT 33080694 03/17/1945 856 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
492 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

ATTISON, CECIL L. T/SGT 14182361 02/02/1944 703 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
445 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) FLORIDA BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-7523 - MACR 2509.

BADGEROW, WILLIAM C. 2D LT O-743223 08/05/1943 AIR CORPS MICHIGAN BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30468 - MACR 163.

BAILEY, EDWARD F. SGT 12189177 06/06/1944 587 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 394
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (MEDIUM) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B26F - 42-96249 - MACR 15750.

BARKER, ROBERT W. S/SGT 11087386 08/05/1943 AIR CORPS MASSACHUSETTS
BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30468 - MACR 163.

BOAZE, CLYDE K. S/SGT 13032141 09/09/1942 328 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 93
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) VIRGINIA BRITISH ISLES
B24D - 41-23713 - No MACR.

BORUTA, CHARLES C. S/SGT 20643759 02/08/1944 1 SQUADRON 480 ANTISUB
GROUPISLESIGAN BRITISH ISLES
B24D - 41- 11937 - No MACR (?).

BREW, BENJAMIN A. 2D LT O-763475 07/23/1944 HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON 495
FIGHTER TRAINING GROUP CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
P47C - 41-6234 - No MACR (?).

BRINKOETER, AARON L. F/LT O T-002092 07/19/1944 560 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
388 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) TEXAS BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30851 - MACR 15758.

BROWN, HERMAN S. 2D LT O-722690 01/02/1945 4 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 34
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 43-38292 - MACR 11566.

BROWN, MALCOLM S. 1ST LT O-731811 11/13/1944 312 FERRY SQUADRON 27 AIR
TRANSPORT GROUP CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
C47B - 43-48478 - MACR 10662.

BUSH, GEORGE M. CAPT O-724696 12/09/1943 52 SQUADRON 6 FERRY GROUP
CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 42-31439 - MACR 1190.

CHRESSANTHIS, JAMES G. SGT 32941976 03/17/1945 856 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
492 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

CLARK, ROBERT H. 2D LT O-779789 03/17/1945 856 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 492
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) COLORADO BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

CLEMENS, ARTHUR R. S/SGT 33504740 12/22/1944 36 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
801 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B24J - 42-51232 - MACR 11107.

COBB, CALVIN J Jr. S/SGT 14107831 02/02/1944 579 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
392 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) ALABAMA BRITISH ISLES
B24 H - 42-7570 - MACR - 2531.

COLE, WOODROW W. CAPT O-340574 08/21/1944 442 TROOP CARRIER GROUP
OKLAHOMA BRITISH ISLES
Proctor III - LZ676 - MACR 9815.

CRUMP, JOHN W. T/SGT 36318179 02/15/1943 68 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 44
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) ILLINOIS BRITISH ISLES
B24D - 41-23800 - No MACR (?).

CUNNINGHAM, JAMES J. T/SGT 06995285 01/06/1943 1 SQUADRON 480 ANTISUB
GROUP PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B24D - 41-23997 - No MACR.

DAUTEL, CHARLES H. SGT 37705000 12/22/1944 36 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 482
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) KANSAS BRITISH ISLES
B24J - 42-51232 - MACR 11107.

DEWEY, JOHN A. CAPT O-351020 08/24/1943 HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON 385
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NORTH DAKOTA BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30187 - MACR 961.

DYAL, WILLIAM E. 2D LT O-790812 10/03/1942 85 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 47
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (LIGHT) GEORGIA BRITISH ISLES
A20B - 41-3159 - MACR 1188.

EICKHOFF, ARTHUR G. SGT 37721506 03/17/1945 856 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
492 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) KANSAS BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

FELLER, LOUIS -- T/SGT 12014594 02/02/1944 1 COMBAT CREW REPLACEMENT
CENTER GROUP NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30131 - MACR 2250.

FISHER, JOHN W Jr. 1ST LT O-695247 08/04/1944 337 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
96 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 42-39835 - MACR (?) - "Aphrodite" conversion a/c.

FORMAN, HERBERT -- 2D LT O-807304 05/23/1944 401 FIGHTER SQUADRON 370
FIGHTER GROUP NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
P38J - 42-68179 - MACR 6505.

FORTON, STEPHEN W Jr. S/SGT 16064435 04/09/1944 785 BOMBARDMENT
SQUADRON 466 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) MICHIGAN BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-52555 - MACR 3843.

FREEMAN, TED M. 2D LT O-686737 08/04/1944 310 FERRY SQUADRON TEXAS BRITISH ISLES
P38J - 44-23686 - MACR 10663.

GERLOTT, JOHN C. SGT 33610203 03/17/1945 856 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 492
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

GREEN, CHARLES -- SGT 18192003 02/02/1944 1 COMBAT CREW REPLACEMENT
CENTER GROUP OKLAHOMA BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30131 - MACR 2250.

GREENFIELD, WILLIAM E. ARM3 07094098 03/12/1944 UNITED STATES NAVY
RESERVE NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
PB4Y-1 - 63946 - VB-110 - MACR (?).

GREY, RONALD -- T/SGT 32809357 07/19/1944 560 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 388
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30851 - MACR 15758.

GRIFFIN, JOHN J Jr. 2D LT O-734673 10/17/1943 337 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
96 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) OHIO BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30365 - MACR 1019.

HAIGHT, EDWARD L. 2D LT O-793763 07/17/1943 13 PHOTO SQUADRON 7
RECONNAISSANCE GROUP FLORIDA BRITISH ISLES
F5A - 42-12780 - MACR 33.

HARWOOD, THOMAS H. S/SGT 34374445 04/22/1944 448 BOMBARDMENT GROUP
(HEAVY), 715 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON TENNESSEE BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-52608 - MACR 4301.

HAUNTY, JOSEPH G. SGT 20656032 10/03/1942 85 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 47
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (LIGHT) WISCONSIN BRITISH ISLES
A20B - 41-3159 - MACR 1188.

HELMS, WILLIAM S. 1ST LT O-886108 10/10/1944 70 ARMY AIR FORCE
REPLACEMENT DEPOT ALABAMA BRITISH ISLES
Hudson III - V9195 - MACR 10664 - 519 Sqdn RAF.

HENDRICKSON, C D. 1ST LT O-886158 10/16/1944 AIR CORPS MONTANA BRITISH ISLES
Halifax II - HX178 - MACR 11062 - 58 Sqdn RAF.

HOFMANN, ROGER P. 1ST LT O-825171 01/02/1945 4 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 34
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW JERSEY BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 43-38292 - MACR 11566.

HOLOKA, JOHN -- Jr. T/SGT 07020757 06/22/1944 844 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
489 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-94826 - MACR 7550.

JAMES, HENRY P. T/SGT 35428569 10/17/1943 337 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 96
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) WEST VIRGINIA BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30365 - MACR 1019.

JOHNSON, WARREN L. 2D LT O-775379 01/02/1945 4 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 34
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 43-38292 - MACR 11566.

JONES, LEE V. 1ST LT O-734351 08/24/1943 551 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 385
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30187 - MACR 961.

KAUFFMAN, FRED S. 2D LT O-818878 06/19/1944 525 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
379 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW JERSEY BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 42-97942 - MACR 6983.

KAUFMAN, DAVID H. 2D LT O-428648 08/19/1942 ELECTRONICS TRAINING GROUP
OHIO BRITISH ISLES
Passenger in Wellington VIII - HX482 - MACR ? - 172 Sqdn RAF.
Shot down by USS Gulf of Mexico off Swansea.

KING, GEORGE F. MAJ O-418300 11/06/1943 2 ARMY AIR FORCE BASE DEPOT
COLORADO BRITISH ISLES
B26B - Serial unknown - MACR 15489 - 31 Transport Group - Pilot was Everett L. Miller.

KRUEGER, ARDELL F. S/SGT 36292349 06/27/1944 448 BOMBARDMENT GROUP
(HEAVY), 713 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON MICHIGAN BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-50369 - MACR 6726.

LEONARD, ALVIN L. SGT 37500397 01/13/1944 AIR CORPS MISSOURI BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 42-31604 - MACR ?

LOWRY, LESTER L. 2D LT O-686646 01/26/1944 487 FIGHTER SQUADRON 352
FIGHTER GROUP PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
P47D - 42-8516 - MACR ?

LUND, ROLFE D. S/SGT 39560152 04/09/1944 785 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 466
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-52555 - MACR 3843.

MADER, CECIL W. S/SGT 13030351 10/03/1942 85 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 47
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (LIGHT) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
A20B - 41-3159 - MACR 1188.

MALANIAK, WALTER H. 2D LT O-813403 07/19/1944 560 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
388 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) MICHIGAN BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30851 - MACR 15757.

MCMAHAN, ERNEST B. CAPT O-732299 05/09/1944 487 FIGHTER SQUADRON 352
FIGHTER GROUP CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
P51B - 42-106502 - MACR ?

MCROBERTS, FLOYD M. 1ST LT O-886295 12/07/1945 AIR CORPS TEXAS BRITISH ISLES
Halifax III - MZ463 - MACR 11656 - 429 ( Canadian )Sqdn RAF

MENG, HAROLD R. 2D LT O-702472 06/20/1944 853 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 491
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-95191 - MACR 8232.

MONTGOMERY, WILLIAM B. 1ST LT O-693305 06/22/1944 844 BOMBARDMENT
SQUADRON 489 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-94826 - MACR 7550.

NELSON, HENRY M. 1ST LT O-437038 02/05/1943 345 FIGHTER SQUADRON 350
FIGHTER GROUP NEW JERSEY BRITISH ISLES

OTIS, ESBURN D. 2D LT O-745999 01/26/1944 79 FIGHTER SQUADRON 20
FIGHTER GROUP WASHINGTON BRITISH ISLES
P38J - 42-67492 - MACR ?

PARKER, RALPH D Jr. S/SGT 18114908 06/06/1944 587 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
394 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (MEDIUM) TEXAS BRITISH ISLES
B26F - 42-96249 - MACR 15750.

PELLEGRINI, ANTHONY D. 2D LT O-2068457 03/17/1945 856 BOMBARDMENT
SQUADRON 492 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

PICKFORD, ROBERT J. 2D LT O-789804 01/06/1943 1 ANTISUB SQUADRON
CONNECTICUT BRITISH ISLES
B24D - 41-23997 - No MACR.

RAYMOND, ELWOOD D. 2D LT O-814757 09/18/1944 63 FIGHTER SQUADRON 56
FIGHTER GROUP NEW JERSEY BRITISH ISLES
P47D - 42-26057 - MACR 8997.

RICHTERS, WILLIAM C. SGT 17160348 03/23/1945 412 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
95 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) MISSOURI BRITISH ISLES (336 Bombardment Squadron ?).
B17G - 44-8604 - MACR ?

ROBERTSON, DAVID L. S/SGT 14005302 02/05/1944 AIR CORPS ALABAMA BRITISH ISLES
B24J - 42-100286 - MACR 4484.

ROGERS, GEORGE S. SGT 34474119 06/06/1944 587 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 394
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (MEDIUM) MISSISSIPPI BRITISH ISLES
B26F - 42-96249 - MACR 15750.

SANDERS, EDWARD C. T/SGT 15018188 08/24/1943 551 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
385 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) OHIO BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30187 - MACR 961.

SCHOOLMASTER, C F. MAJ O-435705 05/25/1944 HEADQUARTERS 95 BOMBARDMENT
WING DELAWARE BRITISH ISLES
P47 - MACR ? - ( 392 Bombardment Group/577 Bombardment Squadron ).

SCHROM, CLIFFORD R. 2D LT O-679664 04/22/1944 448 BOMBARDMENT GROUP
(HEAVY), 715 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON INDIANA BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-52608 - MACR 4301.

SCOTT, PERCY L Jr. S/SGT 35143723 01/02/1945 4 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 34
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) INDIANA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 43-38292 - MACR 11566.

SHARP, ROBERT H. CAPT O-793544 06/10/1945 328 FIGHTER SQUADRON 352
FIGHTER GROUP MISSISSIPPI BRITISH ISLES
P51B - 43-7174 - MACR 5553.

SORTOMME, CHARLES L. 1ST LT O-880818 03/17/1945 652 BOMBARDMENT
SQUADRON 25 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-8601 - MACR 13856 - ( 25 Bombardment Group ).

STRADER, LEROY C. 1ST LT O-753754 08/20/1945 37 FIGHTER SQUADRON 14
FIGHTER GROUP WISCONSIN BRITISH ISLES
P38J - 43-28336 - MACR 8341.

STRAUSS, JOHN A. S/SGT 12083270 06/04/1944 494 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 344
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (MEDIUM) NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B26B - 42-95814 - MACR 15760.

THOMPSON, HAROLD M. T/SGT 39092072 11/21/1944 565 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
389 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) OREGON BRITISH ISLES
B24J - 44-10513 - MACR 15294.

TODD, CHARLES D. 2D LT O-716996 12/27/1944 732 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 453
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) MISSOURI BRITISH ISLES
B24J - 42-50898 - No MACR .

TOGNAZZINI, CECIL A. S/SGT 19161113 06/19/1944 525 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
379 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B17G - 44-6133 - MACR 6984.

WAGNER, HARVEY M. CAPT O-660600 01/07/1944 13 PHOTO SQUADRON 7
RECONNAISSANCE GROUP NEW JERSEY BRITISH ISLES
F5B - 42-67345 - MACR 1856.

WATSON, CLARENCE S. CPL 39406449 10/09/1944 35 SQUADRON 492
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) CALIFORNIA BRITISH ISLES
B17H - 42-94841 - No MACR.

WERNER, SAMUEL -- T/SGT 12156211 04/22/1944 448 BOMBARDMENT GROUP
(HEAVY), 715 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON NEW YORK BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-52608 - MACR 4301.

WILLIS, THOMAS H. T/SGT 16043151 07/29/1943 561 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
388 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) MICHIGAN BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-5908 - MACR 3069.

WOLOZYN, JOSEPH A. S/SGT 13087777 07/29/1943 338 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
96 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) PENNSYLVANIA BRITISH ISLES
B17F - 42-30370 - MACR 144.

YOUNG, LLOYD C. S/SGT 35338878 11/10/1944 790 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 467
BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) OHIO BRITISH ISLES
B24H - 42-52571 - MACR 10323.


Ref: DPAA

[David Layne]

Missing over the British Isles or departed from the British Isles and missing? That seems an extraordinary amount of aviators to be missing over the British Isles and unaccounted for.

[Alex Smart]

My list does not include those that the DPAA list as lost/Still MIA in the North Sea, English Channel or Atlantic Ocean.
All I have done is add the details of aircraft (if involved) and MACR if known or if one was required.


https://www.dpaa.mil/Portals/85/Docu...ir_forces.html

[RSwank]

The DPAA list is often not "consistent" or "accurate" as to location. For example, the third man on your list is BADGEROW, WILLIAM C, lost in B-17 42-30468. The only other man you listed as lost in that plane is BARKER, ROBERT (5th man on your list). And yet the entire 10 man crew of 42-30468 is still missing and they all appear on the DPAA list. The other 8 men don't have "BRITISH ISLES" as a lost location but have other locations listed such as "NORTH SEA OR TYRRHENIAN SEA". Crewman Harold Ahrens is listed as lost in the "Atlantic Ocean" on the DPAA list so he did not show up on your list either.

All were lost just off Berwick, Northumberland in the "North Sea".

The full crew is listed here along with a brief description of the loss:

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/4467

MACR is here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90888614

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Rolland, that was why I stated in my earlier post. Several crew are listed under other headings.

From local knowledge I know of at least one B17 that force landed on a Cornish beach but is listed elsewhere as being lost over the North Sea, which is even on the other side of England from the crash place.

You also note North Sea/Tyrrhenian Sea.
I have puzzled this connection on many searches
Do they mean the North Sea between Great Britain and Europe or The North Sea(Tyrrhenian Sea ) north of Corsica ? Most that I found were in our North sea nowhere near Italy but there are many that I have not checked.

All the best, thanks
Alex

[Icare9]

If they flew from airfields in the UK, then for them to still be "Missing" would likely indicate Lost At Sea somewhere around the British Isles or Atlantic. As such they may never be found or may have been washed ashore along any coastline and have been unable to be identified in any way and are buried onshore in Known Unto God/Unknown Airman (or even Sailor as no one would know how they came to be washed ashore).

But publishing Names may turn up one or two that may lead to Unknowns also being traced.

[Alex Smart]

Agreed, and perhaps a few that seem not to have an MACR may well have members checking and find an MACR where I have failed ? Or perhaps match them to an aircraft ( where I have not ).

[R Leonard]

One might also consider that those listed in DPAA are there because their remains were not recovered. They were removed from missing or missing in action status and declared dead long, long ago as required by law.

[Alex Smart]

Exactly, Still MIA.

[R Leonard]

No, to be precise, not MIA, but simply BNR, body not recovered. One cannot remain missing in action, or merely missing, indefinitely.

US services accounting for the missing or missing in action were covered under Public Law 490 of the 77th Congress. If you wish, you can find the referenced Public Law 490 in its entirety here: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statute...c77s2ch166.pdf. The various sections of this law cover the potential eventualities and the process to be followed; of specific note is section 9, where it says:

"Within the scope of the authority granted by this Act, the determination by the head of the department concerned, or by such person as he may designate, of the status of a person in the military or naval forces, the Coast Guard, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Public Health Service, or civilian officers or employees as defined in paragraph (a) (3) of section 1 of this Act, or his direction relative to continuance, temporary suspension, or resumption of payment of pay and allowances, or finding of death, shall be conclusive.”

" . . . or finding of death shall be conclusive . . .” sounds definitive. That means an individual is no longer listed as missing or missing in action, it means the individual is listed as one of the categories of war dead.

It is all very straight forward. For example, US Army combat deaths as reported in the final Adjutant General’s report ““Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths in World War II” published by the Department of the Army in 1953:

Total US Army deaths among battle casualties, all theaters and branches including USAAF, as of 31 December 1946 were 234,874. This breaks down as

Killed in action = 189,696
Died of wounds or injuries = 26,225
Evacuated to US, died of wounds or injuries = 84
Captured & interned total = 124,079
Captured & interned, returned to military control = 111,426
Captured & interned, killed in action = 3,102
Captured & interned, died of wounds and injuries = 453
Captured & interned, died of other causes = 9,098
Missing in action total = 30,314
Missing in action, returned to duty = 24,098
Missing in action, declared dead = 6,058
Missing in action, died of other causes = 158

Add up the deaths in these three categories and you get, hmmm, 234,874.

For non-battle deaths there were a total of 92,656

Non-battle accident aircraft = 27,628
Non-battle accident, non-aircraft = 29,224
Non-battle disease = 26,518
Non-battle other = 9,286

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the bodies of a not inconsiderable percentage of those noted as killed in aircraft accidents were not recovered, thus making them “missing” (“missing,” not “missing in action”) and probably a percentage of bodies from the accident non-aircraft deaths were likewise not recovered, putting them also in the “missing” category, but for death casualty accounting purposes, they are dead and are recorded as same.

Add up all these non-battle deaths and apply that sum to the battle deaths and we arrive at 318,274.

Sniff around the internet and one can find the total US Army casualties, here’s a quickie: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/st...litary-numbers and what do we find? Hmmm 318,274 . . . looks right to me.

At that same site we see for the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard deaths 62,614 and 24,511 and 1,917 respectively. There are available on micro-fiche lists of USN killed, originally produced in the Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, but it takes some sleuthing about to use the data in a meaningful manner. And, unfortunately, it does not include all US Navy losses; others may be found in files at NARA covering miscellaneous losses such as naval gun crews assigned to merchant ships and US Army vessels. Working to determine a formal date of death for the individual missing requires some careful researching. Sometimes it is tedious but can be done. We can, however, work backwards through the gross numbers to satisfy ourselves that the missing and missing in action are included in these total numbers.

Looking at https://www.history.navy.mil/researc...tatistics.html we find the US Navy reports total combat deaths due to enemy (a general category) all officers, enlisted, and officer candidates, as 36,950, about 59% of its total reported deaths.

Killed in action = 30,831
Killed in action, air combat = 3,173
Died of wounds = 1,837
Died POW = 919
Died other deaths due to enemy action = 190

Next, we can find that the total of deaths reported due to other than enemy action was 25,664:
Natural causes = 5,533
Aviation accidents = 8,184
Other deaths, 11,947

Let us see . . . 36,960 + 25,664 = 62,614 . . . check.

For a couple of micro looks, one might consider the loss of submarines over the course of the war. The USN reported 52 submarines as known lost or lost as overdue from patrol. Lost with these were 3,506 officers and men. Their remains were, for the most part, not recovered and never will be. These individuals appear in the DPAA listings, but when one double checks, one finds that they were declared dead as required by law and are included in the deaths accounting.

For example, plucking a name from those known losses and trying to keep it simple with one of the more well-known such, CDR Samuel D Dealey was commander of USS Harder, lost on 24 August 1944. Dealey appears on the DPAA rolls as unrecovered; he was reported as missing in action. A year later, 25 August 1945, his widow, Edwina, was presented with his posthumous Medal of Honor. We can also find his name on the list of those killed aboard Harder in the US Navy’s “United States Submarine Losses World War II” (a nice volume if you can get your hands on one, but the USN Heritage & History site has it available in an on-line format at https://www.history.navy.mil/researc...ne-losses.html). The bodies of he and his crew were never recovered (in Navy vernacular ‘BNR’ – Body Not Recovered) and are, therefore, counted among the US Navy’s war dead. They, the crew of USS Harder, were all officially declared dead on 2 October 1945 and are memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery, see https://abmc.gov/print/certificate/462598

Another easily ferreted example would be from those killed aboard USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. The accounting of how many, and who, were lost came not from counting bodies, but from comparing muster rolls to survivors. Thus, and without looking very hard at all, on the first line of the DPAA Navy unrecovered listing is Aaron, Hubert, F2c, lost on 7 Dec 1941 on USS Arizona; his body was not recovered. If you were to check the US Navy’s published state by state reporting of casualties, look in Aaron’s home state of Arkansas and, lo, there he is, the very first entry under “Killed in Action, Died of Wounds, or Lost Lives as a Result of Operational Movements in War Zones.” State by state loss registers are available from the NARA website.

So, F2c Hubert Aaron, USN, who, as an AS, was received for duty aboard USS Arizona on 1 January 1941, was lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He is listed as missing in action on a 31 December 1941 USS Arizona muster roll and currently still listed as remains unrecovered. He was, however, declared dead by the Navy as of 7 December 1941 and is counted as killed in action. He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial, see https://www.abmc.gov/print/certificate/476944.

Most of this is a very simple exercise with the knowledge of the data underpinning the numbers. I will not go through the exercise for the US Marines or US Coast Guard, anyone wanting to chase their numbers is invited to do so.

So, DPAA is a listing of those declared dead whose bodies were not recovered, it is not a list of Missing or Missing in Action and should not be confused for same.