The recent identification of the remains of 1st Lt. Henry J. Carlin, a Pennsylvania airman missing since World War II, marks a significant moment in honoring those who sacrificed their lives during the war. Carlin, who was 27 years old when he disappeared, was aboard a B-25C Mitchell bomber that tragically crashed in Burma during a low-altitude mission in the summer of 1943. His aircraft had six crew members, of whom four, including Carlin, were never recovered post-war, leading to their designation as missing in action. The other two crew members were captured by Japanese forces; however, their fates after the war remain unclear, contributing to the lingering uncertainty surrounding the mission.
The story took a grim turn when it was revealed that the remains of Carlin and the other crew members were interred in a common grave near Kyunpobin, Burma, without any identification. Witness accounts from the time described the remains as belonging to an “American crash,” complicating efforts to ascertain their identities after the war. In 1947, the American Graves Registration Service recovered the remains, but the lack of distinguishing information left them listed as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
It wasn’t until 2022 that a breakthrough occurred when the Department of Defense approved a disinterment request from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). This led to the exhumation and further investigation of the remains, utilizing advanced scientific methods. DPAA scientists conducted dental, anthropological, and radio isotope analyses, while mitochondrial DNA analysis performed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System provided a positive identification of Carlin’s remains, confirmed on April 16, 2023.
Carlin’s long-awaited identification brings closure not only to his family but also to a narrative that has persisted through generations. The confirmation of his remains enables his official burial at Arlington National Cemetery, scheduled for May 2026. This ceremonial interment serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery displayed by Carlin and his crew in the face of war’s uncertainties and dangers.
In addition to the personal significance of Carlin’s identification, it reinforces the enduring commitment of the United States to account for its missing service members from past conflicts. Carlin’s name continues to be memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. As a mark of his identification, a rosette will be placed beside his name, symbolizing that he has finally been accounted for.
Carlin served as a navigator in the 22nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), 10th Air Force. His story emphasizes not only the intricacies of military operations during World War II but also the ongoing efforts to honor those who served. This identification represents both a closure for Carlin’s family and a broader testament to the national commitment to remembering and honoring the sacrifices made by those in uniform.
