Another Comes Home

SSgt. David R. Kittredge, 450th Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium, 9th Air Force, US Army Air Forces, was a crewman on a B-26. Unfortunately, his aircraft was lost in Germany on 16 April 1945. SSgt. Kittredge died as the result of the crash. His remains were not recovered at the time.

However, human remains from the crash were discovered in 2012. They were identified by the Armed Forces DNA lab earlier this year as those of SSgt. Kittredge.

SSgt Kittredge’s remains were returned to his family yesterday. He will be interred at Nicolet Memorial Gardens in Scott, WI, tomorrow, with full military honors.

Welcome home, my elder brother-in-arms. Rest in peace.

. . .

Over 73,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,890 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,640 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA).  Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in providing a positive ID for those recovered remains.

Unfortunately, JPAC has recently reorganized their web site and no longer seems to provide by-name lists of the MIAs for whom there is a need for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).  So if you have a relative that is still MIA from World War II, Korea, or SEA – please consider reading this JPAC fact sheet to see if you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample.  Additionally, DPMO has a page explaining the use of DNA (both types) in the process of identifying human remains here.

If you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample and have a relative from World War II, Korea, or SEA who is still MIA, please contact JPAC (there is an 866 number on the flier linked above) and see if they already have a mtDNA sample for your missing relative.  If not, please arrange to submit a sample. By submitting a mtDNA sample, you may be able to help identify US remains that have been recovered and repatriated but not yet positively identified.

Everybody deserves a proper burial.  That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

Category: No Longer Missing