WWII bomber crew members finally returned home after 81 years

The remains of four crew members from the World War II bomber Heaven Can Wait, which was shot down off the coast of Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944, are being returned to their families after decades of being classified as non-recoverable. The bomber, a B-24 with a cartoon pin-up angel painted on its nose, was on a mission to attack Japanese targets when it was downed by enemy fire. All 11 crew members on board died in the crash, and their remains were initially designated as lost at sea, with no survivors reported by other aircraft in the area. However, advances in technology and a persistent investigative effort by family members led to the recovery of the remains of four crew members: radio operator Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, bombardier 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, pilot 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson, and navigator 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick. Recently, Darrigan was laid to rest with military honors in Wappingers Falls, New York, highlighting the community's support for the families involved after such a long time. Kelly's remains were interred on May 26, 2025, in Livermore, California. In the coming months, Tennyson and Sheppick are scheduled for burials in Kansas and Pennsylvania, respectively. With seven soldiers still unaccounted for from the crash, future efforts are anticipated as the search for the remaining crew continues, marking a significant advancement in honoring those who served, despite the passage of time since the tragic event.