Skip to content Skip to navigation

US team in search of NE war martyr

Investigators from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) returned to India this week to continue the search for remains of U.S. personnel missing since World War II.  Last year, DPAA deployed a team to northeast India for 30 days in search of remains for unaccounted-for U.S. airmen, and this is their fifth mission to India since 2013.

There are approximately 400 U.S. airmen missing in India, most of whose remains are believed to be located in the Himalayan Mountains in northeast India.  During World War II, the United States provided supplies to the Chinese Army by flying over the Himalayas, a route known as “The Hump.”  Many of these aircraft went missing and were never found in the mountainous terrain.

During DPAA’s missions in 2015 and 2016, remains were recovered and are in the process of being identified through DNA testing.  One set of remains from the 2015 recovery mission was positively identified as U.S. Army Air Force's 1st Lt. Robert E. Oxford.  In 2016, a local villager turned over additional remains thought to be associated with another U.S. crash site.

This year, the team will conduct a similar mission in northeast India, surveying several different sites from those visited during the 2016 investigation effort.

Mary Kay Carlson, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said, “The United States works with governments around the world to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. This is the fifth DPAA mission to India since 2013, demonstrating successful cooperation between the governments of India and the United States.  This positive relationship underscores the dedication each nation brings to this humanitarian mission.”

DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for U.S. missing personnel to their families and the nation. 

Author info

Syed Miraz Ahmed's picture

Writes, edits and researches. In 2013 he was conferred the Rotary International District 3240 Young Achiever Award for his work in the area of environment and digital journalism. In 2006 he was awarded first in the category of Wildlife Photography by the Department of Environment & Forests and Tourism, Government of Assam.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Encounter in Karbi Anglong: 6 NDFB rebels killed

18 May 2009 - 1:22pm | editor
Six NDFB rebels were killed during a heavy gun battle with army in Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday.According to information, the encounter took place at Donghap area in the hills district on...

Arunachal students not to loose land

2 Sep 2015 - 7:44pm | Jackson Tayeng
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) decided to meet the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for State Kiren Rijiju to show its resentment over the recent Naga Peace Accord signed...

Sensational revelations in NIA

20 Jul 2015 - 4:07pm | Hantigiri Narzary
NDFB-S targeted Adivasis in December 23 last year in Sonitpur and Kokrajhar accusing the community of sharing information with the security forces.This was what NIA founds out its probe into the...

Join Assam Times on Telegram