Identification of WWII Airman Leads to Upcoming Burial

Almost 80 years after his disappearance in a World War II plane crash in Burma, the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Henry J. Carlin, from Pennsylvania, have been identified. This development paves the way for a long-awaited burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

In the summer of 1943, the 27-year-old Carlin was part of a six-member crew on a B-25C “Mitchell” bomber that crashed while conducting a low-altitude mission over Maithira, Burma. Unfortunately, Carlin’s body, along with three others from the aircraft, was never recovered after the war and was declared missing.

Reports indicate that two surviving crew members were taken captive by Japanese forces, but their ultimate fate remains unclear. Meanwhile, the remains of four heroes were initially interred in a mass grave near Kyunpobin, Burma. They were recovered in 1947 by the American Tomb Registration Service, although identification proved challenging due to vague descriptions of “American crashes.”

Carlin’s body, previously logged as “unknown” at the Pacific National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, was excavated in 2022 after a specific intervention request by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) was approved.

To confirm Carlin’s identity, DPAA scientists employed dental, anthropological, and radioisotope analyses, alongside mitochondrial DNA evaluations—a comprehensive approach that successfully identified him on April 16.

In a twist of fate, Carlin’s family will finally see closure as his remains are set to be interred in Arlington National Cemetery in May 2026. His name is also on the missing walls of Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, marked by a rosette indicating his ongoing identification efforts.

Carlin served as a navigator with the 22nd Bomb Squadron, 341st Bomb Group (Medium), and 10th Air Force. It’s a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during the war, and the long wait for families seeking closure.