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Remains of WW II airman found on Pacific island identified as Detroit man

Remains of WW II airman found on Pacific island identified as Detroit man
Posted at 12:50 PM, Sep 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-15 12:50:45-04

The U.S. government has identified the remains of a World War II airman from Detroit who died in a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean in 1944.

The Defense Department says the remains are 2nd Lt. Donald Underwood, who was aboard a bomber known as the "Miss Bee Haven." The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Gilbert Islands. That area now is the country of Kiribati (Kirr-a-BAS').

Victims of the plane crash were recovered and buried during World War II. The burial site on Betio island was discovered in June by Florida-based History Flight and turned over to the U.S. government.

History Flight is a group that searches for the remains of U.S. war dead. Katie Rasdorf, a volunteer with the group, says Underwood's family was notified last week.