San Francisco WWII Airman's Remains Recovered 70 Years Later

A World War II airman from San Francisco who vanished seven decades ago is coming home to the United States.

The remains of Sgt. Charles A. Gardner and his fellow airmen will be buried with full honors on Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Gardner was among a dozen men aboard a bomber that was shot down over New Guinea in 1944. All are believed to have died in the crash or in captivity.

After the war, the Army found the remains of three airmen. In 2001, the wreckage of the B-24 Liberator and the remains of eight other crewmen were found.

Defense officials say DNA from relatives helped identify Gardner.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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