Status of Bomber Crew Now 'Killed In Action'
"Washington , March 9 (AP) The Army reopened its World War II casualty books today to list as 'killed in action' seven men who disappeared on a combat flight in New Guinea more than 14 years ago.
In changing the status of the seven from the 'presumed dead' category, the Army in effect accepted as proof of death the discovery last month in a New Guinea jungle of the wreckage of a B-25 bomber. Found with it were the bodies of six persons and identity tags and other personal identification items for five.
Records show that a B-25 bomber bearing the serial number of the one found wrecked failed to return from a mission in 1943. Seven men were aboard.
The Army had no immediate explanation for the discrepancy between the number on the plane and the finding of only six bodies and five sets of identification.
The Army, noting that the addresses in some cases were out of date gave these identification for the men and their next of kin:
Lt. Col Dan Be Searcy, whose wife is now Mrs. Dorothy Akinson, 1430 S. Utica St. Tulsa, Okla. His father is R. L. Searcy, Lewisville, Ark.:
Major William G. Benn husband of Mrs. Dorothy C. Benn, falls Church, Ga.:
Major Donn C. Young, husband of Mrs. Marie B. Young, Chicago.
S Sgt Michael Ewas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Ewas, 6824 Faust St. Detroit;
Sgt Wilfred D. Coyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Coyer, Jenikns, K.;
Sgt Herman D. Elsner, son of Mrs. Anna Elsner, R. 1, Hemlock Mich.;
Corp. Laverne D. Van Dyke, son of Isaac Van Dkye, 141 Maple St. Zeeland, Mich.
Records of the 5th Air Force showed that the B-25 with the same serial number was lost in January, 1943.
From then until Dec. 20, 1945, the seven men were officially listed as Missing In Action.
On the latter date, they were reported 'presumed dead.'
The B-25 bombers used in New Guinea carried crews of three or four men, but the Army said its records show the plane in question also carried at least two passengers."
Credit: Lansing State Journal page 12 Date: March 10, 1957
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