More than 80 years after his plane was downed by lightning, a US Army Air Force pilot is finally coming home. The remains of 1st Lt. Franklin McKinney were recovered from a rice paddy in northern Thailand and have been confirmed as his. McKinney was flying a reconnaissance mission on November 5, 1944, when his plane was struck by lightning.

The Long Journey Home

The discovery of McKinney’s remains was the result of a long and winding road that involved the help of many people, including a US Air Force Academy cadet, a Thai air force officer, and an American expat. The search for McKinney’s remains began in earnest in 2022, when a team from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) arrived at the crash site to begin excavations.

The DPAA team worked tirelessly to excavate the site, sifting through yards of earth and narrowing the search area bit by bit. In March, they finally found enough bone fragments to positively identify McKinney, and a repatriation ceremony was held at the US Embassy in Bangkok.

A Sacred Promise

The US military has a sacred promise to leave no one behind, and the recovery of McKinney’s remains is a testament to that promise. The military’s efforts to find and identify the remains of fallen service members are a reminder of the importance of honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

McKinney’s story is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by service members and their families during times of war. His remains will finally be laid to rest, bringing closure to his family and comrades who have waited for so long.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.