BELTON, Texas — The body of a Texas World War II veteran is finally making its way back home, 80 years after his death.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said U.S. Army Air Forces Tech Sgt. Turner Y. Johnston has been identified after being declared missing in action during the war.
The Agency said Johnston, a native of Loraine, Texas, is now set to be buried at the North Belton Cemetery in Belton on Oct. 21. The Dossman Funeral Home will perform graveside services.
According to the DPAA, Johnston was an engineer-gunner assigned to the 415th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force during World War II.
DPAA said Johnston was serving aboard a B-24 Liberator bomber when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed on Aug. 1, 1943, during Operation TIDAL WAVE, the largest bombing mission against oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, Romania.
Johnston was initially declared missing in action, but according to a news article shared by the DPAA, his death was later confirmed by Staff Sgt. Clark Fitzpatrick, who had also been aboard the plane. Fitzpatrick said Johnston was killed in the crash after ordering the rest of the crew to evacuate.
"He was one of the bravest men I have ever known," Fitzpatrick reportedly wrote in a letter to Johnston's mother.
Johnston was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart for his actions.
Johnston was reportedly only 21 years old when he died.
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Johnston's remains were not identified after the war, said DPAA. DPAA also stated any remains that could not be identified were buried as unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.
After the war, the remains of all American service members buried at the Bolovan Cemetery were disinterred by the American Graves Registration Command for identification. More than 80 unknown service members who could not be identified were interred at Ardennes American Cemetery and Henri-Chappelle American Cemetery in Belgium.
In 2017, the DPAA said they began exhuming remains believed to be associated with unaccounted-for airmen from Operation TIDAL WAVE, which were then sent to the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska for identification.
Using anthropological, mitochondrial DNA, Y chromosome DNA and autosomal DNA analysis, Johnston's remains were identified on April 25, 2023, said the DPAA.
Now, 80 years after his death, Johnston is finally set to be buried back in the Lone Star State.
The DPAA said Johnston's name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Impruneta, Italy, along with others who are still missing from WWII. They say a rosette will now be placed next to Johnston's name to indicate that he has been accounted for.
More information about Johnston can be found on the DPAA website at this link.
For more information on the DPAA, visit this link.
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