Sat, Dec 15, 2007
Were Among B-29 Crew Shot Down In April 1951
The Department of Defense
POW/Missing Personnel Office announced this week the remains of two
US servicemen, missing in action from the Korean War, have been
identified and are being returned to their families for burial with
full military honors.
They are Col. Douglas H. Hatfield, of Shenandoah, VA, and Capt.
Richard H. Simpson, of Fairhaven, MI, both US Air Force. Funeral
dates have not been set by the families.
On April 12, 1951, Hatfield and Simpson were two of eleven
crewmembers on a B-29 Superfortress that left Kadena Air Base,
Japan, to bomb targets in the area of Sinuiju, North Korea. Enemy
MiG-15 fighters attacked the B-29, but before it crashed, three
crewmembers were able to bail out. They were captured and two of
them were later released in 1954 to US military control during
Operation "Big Switch." The third crewmember died in captivity. He
and the eight remaining crewmembers were not recovered.
In 1993, the North Korean government turned over to the United
Nations Command 31 boxes containing the remains of US servicemen
listed as unaccounted-for from the Korean War. Four sets of remains
from this group were subsequently identified as crewmembers from
the B-29.
In 2000, a joint US/Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(D.P.R.K.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC)
excavated an infantry fighting position in Kujang County where they
recovered remains which included those of Hatfield and
Simpson.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial
evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA
Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental
comparisons in the identification of the remains recovered in
2000.
More News
Say Altitude Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state the indicated altitude round>[...]
Aero Linx: European Air Law Association (EALA) EALA was established in 1988 with the aim to promote the study of European air law and to provide an open forum for those with an int>[...]
From 2023 (YouTube Version): The Life, Death, Life, Death, and Life of a Glorious Warbird In 1981, business-owner Jim Tobul and his father purchased a Chance-Vought F4U Corsair. Mo>[...]
Also: USCG Retires MH-65 Dolphins, Irish Aviation Authority, NATCA Warns FAA, Diamond DA42 AD This summer, history enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to experience World Wa>[...]
Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]