Remains of World War II Soldier, Detroit native, to be buried in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

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FORT KNOX, Ky. – The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr., a Soldier killed during World War II, will be interred July 8 at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Belden-Larkin Funeral Home, Leavenworth, Kansas, will perform graveside services preceding the interment.

A native of Detroit, McLauchlen was a member of the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group during World War II. He went missing in action Dec. 1, 1943, at age 25, after the B-24J Liberator bomber he was piloting, during bombing mission from Panagarh, India, to the Insein Railroad Yard north of Rangoon, Burma, was hit by enemy, anti-aircraft fire.

McLauchlen was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Jan. 25, 2024, after his remains were exhumed from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, also known as the Punchbowl, for laboratory analysis and identification.

more at https://www.dvidshub.net/news/475132/remains-world-war-ii-soldier-detroit-native-buried-fort-leavenworth-kansas

 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr., 25, of Detroit, Michigan, killed during World War II, was accounted for on Jan. 25, 2024.

In December 1943, McLauchlen was a member of the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group during World War II. On Dec. 1, he was serving as the pilot of a B-24J Liberator bomber while on a bombing mission from Panagarh, India, to the Insein Railroad Yard north of Rangoon, Burma. After reaching the designated target, McLauchlen’s plane was reportedly hit by anti-aircraft fire, causing the left wing to burst into flames. Witnesses from another aircraft noted seeing McLauchlen’s aircraft enter a steep dive while disappearing below the clouds. It was noted that 3 enemy aircraft were also seen following the crippled plane into the clouds, and no further contact was made with the Liberator. The remains of the crew were not recovered or identified after the war, and they were all later declared Missing In Action.

 

more at https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Press-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3750137/pilot-accounted-for-from-wwii-mclauchlen-j/

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R.I.P.