WWII U.S. Aircraft, Remains Recovered
The remains of five Americans who flew World War II bombing missions against Japan were found on a volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East, Itar-Tass news agency reported.
The remains were discovered on the slopes of Muntovsky, one of several active volcanoes in the area. Steam pours from its crater nearly every day, Tass said.
The Ventura aircraft apparently was hit by antiaircraft fire while conducting raids on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. It crashed while trying to land on Kamchatka.
Tass said the aircraft was first noticed by geologists in 1962. The latest search for the bodies was led by a U.S. Defense Department commission. The remains will be sent to Hawaii for identification.
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