The remains of Capt. George W. Grismore, an airman missing in action since 1944, have been identified and returned to his family, the Defense Department announced. A native of Salt Lake City, Grismore will be buried at sea with full military honors on Wednesday off the coast of Newport Beach, Calif., following a memorial service in his home city. On March 12, 1944, Grismore was one of six crewmen aboard a C-47 Skytrain that departed Tanauan Airfield on the Philippine Island of Leyte to resupply guerilla troops. The aircraft never returned. The Philippine National Police notified the US government of the aircraft’s discovery and human remains in 1989. In 2009, forensic DNA testing of recovered artifacts led to Grismore’s identification. He was 30 years old at the time of his death.
A KC-46 touched down at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., on July 1 after a record 45-hour nonstop flight around the world. The mission, called Project Magellan, saw the two crews aboard test their limits as they refueled Air Force jets around the planet.