Superfortress 27 June 1944

Aiken, Donald C.
Army Sergeant

Donald C. Aiken from Snohomish County Washington.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, June 27, 1944
Death details: On May 5, 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Sergeant Donal C. Aiken, missing from World War II. Sergeant Aiken entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Washington and served in the 678th Bombardment Squadron, 444th Bombardment Group. On June 27, 1944, he flew as an observer aboard a B-29 Superfortress (serial number 42-6323) carrying eleven crew members on a bombing raid against enemy installations on Kyushu Island, Japan. After completing its mission, the Superfortress crashed into a flooded rice paddy field while flying over Sapekhati, India, killing all those aboard. Following the crash, members of the 342nd Service Squadron, 329th Service Group visited the crash site and identified the remains of seven crew members. The other four crew members, including Sgt Aiken, were declared non-recoverable by the American Graves Registration Command in a 1948 review. In October 2014 the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (a DPAA predecessor organization) conducted a Joint Field Activity in Sapekhati which led to the location of the crash site and the recovery of equipment and wreckage associated with the B-29 aircraft. In 2018 and 2019, Southeastern Archaeological Research (SEARCH), a DPAA partner organization, excavated the site and recovered possible osseous remains and material evidence. These material remains and evidence were later consolidated by the DPAA laboratory for further study. The laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established an association between one portion of these remains and Sgt Aiken.
Cemetery: Tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Larkins, John M.
Army Technician sergeant

John M. Larkins, age 26, from Dickson County Tennessee.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, June 27, 1944
Death details: On June 13, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Tech. Sgt. John M. Larkins, missing from World War II. Larkins entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Tennesse and served with the 678th Bombardment Squadron, 444th Bombardment Group. On June 27, 1944, he was the navigator aboard a B-29 Superfortress (serial number 42-6323) carrying eleven crew members on a bombing raid against enemy installations on Kyushu Island, Japan. After completing its mission, the aircraft crashed into a flooded rice paddy field while flying over Sapekhati, India, killing all those aboard and scattering debris for hundreds of yards. Following the crash, members of the 342nd Service Squadron, 329th Service Group visited the crash site and identified the remains of seven crew members. The other four crew members, including Larkins, were declared non-recoverable by the American Graves Registration Command in a 1948 review. In October 2014 the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (a DPAA predecessor organization) conducted a Joint Field Activity in Sapekhati which led to the location of the crash site and the recovery of equipment and wreckage associated with the B-29 aircraft. In 2018 and 2019, Southeastern Archaeological Research (SEARCH), a DPAA partner organization, excavated the site and recovered osseous remains and material evidence. These remains and material evidence were later consolidated by the DPAA laboratory for further study. The laboratory forensic analysis and the total material and historical evidence available established an association between one portion of these remains and Larkins.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Nashville Banner (1944)

Miklosh, Walter B.
Army 2nd lieutenant

Walter B. Miklosh, age 20, from Christian County Taylorville, Illinois .

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, June 27, 1944
Death details: On May 11, 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Second Lieutenant Walter B. Miklosh, missing from World War II. 2LT Miklosh entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Illinois and served with the 678th Bombardment Squadron, 444th Bombardment Group. On June 27, 1944, he was the navigator aboard a B-29 Superfortress (serial number 42-6323) carrying eleven crew members on a bombing raid against enemy installations on Kyushu Island, Japan. After completing its mission, the Superfortress crashed into a flooded rice paddy field while flying over Sapekhati, India, killing all those aboard and scattering debris for hundreds of yards. Following the crash, members of the 342nd Service Squadron, 329th Service Group visited the crash site and identified the remains of seven crew members. The other four crew members, including 2LT Miklosh, were declared non-recoverable by the American Graves Registration Command in a 1948 review. In October 2014 the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (a DPAA predecessor organization) conducted a Joint Field Activity in Sapekhati which led to the location of the crash site and the recovery of equipment and wreckage associated with the B-29 aircraft. In 2018 and 2019, Southeastern Archaeological Research (SEARCH), a DPAA partner organization, excavated the site and recovered osseous remains and material evidence. These remains and material evidence were later consolidated by the DPAA laboratory for further study. The laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established an association between one portion of these remains and 2LT Miklosh.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Taylorville Daily Breeze Courier (1996)

Rinke, Chester L.
Army Flight officer

Chester L. Rinke, age 33, from Marquette County Michigan.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, June 27, 1944
Death details: On May 5, 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Flight Officer Chester L. Rinke, missing from World War II. Flight Officer Rinke entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Michigan and served in the 678th Bombardment Squadron, 444th Bombardment Group. On June 27, 1944, he was the flight engineer aboard a B-29 Superfortress (serial number 42-6323) carrying eleven crew members on a bombing raid against enemy installations on Kyushu Island, Japan. After completing its mission, the Superfortress crashed into a flooded rice paddy field while flying over Sapekhati, India, killing all those aboard. Following the crash, members of the 342nd Service Squadron, 329th Service Group visited the crash site and identified the remains of seven crew members. The other four crew members, including FO Rinke, were declared non-recoverable by the American Graves Registration Command in a 1948 review. In October 2014 the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (a DPAA predecessor organization) conducted a Joint Field Activity in Sapekhati which led to the location of the crash site and the recovery of equipment and wreckage associated with the B-29 aircraft. In 2018 and 2019, Southeastern Archaeological Research (SEARCH), a DPAA partner organization, excavated the site and recovered osseous remains and material evidence. These remains and material evidence were later consolidated by the DPAA laboratory for further study. The laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established an association between one portion of these remains and FO Rinke.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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