Decades-Long Mystery Solved

Nearly 80 years after vanishing in a World War II plane crash over Burma, the remains of Pennsylvania airman 1st Lt. Henry J. Carlin have been identified. This breakthrough allows for his long-awaited burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Carlin, a 27-year-old from Philadelphia, was part of a six-member crew aboard a B-25C “Mitchell” bomber that crashed during a low-altitude raid in Meiktila, Burma, in the summer of 1943.

The Crash and Its Aftermath

Following the crash, Carlin and three other crew members were declared missing in action as their remains were not recovered. The two surviving crew members were captured by Japanese forces, though their fate remains unclear. The unidentified remains of the four airmen were initially buried in a common grave near Kyunpobin, Burma. In 1947, the American Grave Registration Service recovered these remains, but identification proved difficult due to limited witness descriptions.

Identification Process

In 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) received approval to exhume the bodies listed as “unknowns” at Honolulu’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Scientists employed dental, anthropological, and radio isotope analysis to identify Carlin’s remains. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System confirmed the identification through mitochondrial DNA analysis on April 16.

Honoring a Hero

Carlin’s name is inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. A rosette will be added next to his name to signify he has been accounted for. As a navigator with the 22nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), 10th Air Force, Carlin’s service and sacrifice are finally being recognized.

Final Resting Place

The resolution of this decades-long mystery brings closure to Carlin’s family and honors his legacy. His remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in May 2026, providing a fitting tribute to his bravery and dedication.