WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A tragic chapter from World War II has seen a heartwarming resolution as the remains of crew members from the doomed bomber named Heaven Can Wait are gradually returning to their hometowns.
On March 11, 1944, this B-24 bomber was hit by enemy fire during a mission over the Pacific island of New Guinea, leading to a crash that killed all 11 men aboard.
Despite extensive searches, their remains were labeled as non-recoverable, sinking deep beneath the ocean’s surface for decades.
However, a determined investigation spearheaded by family members has triggered a remarkable recovery operation, involving elite Navy divers who descended 200 feet to retrieve the remains of the fallen servicemen.
On Saturday, Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, the radio operator of the bomber, was honored with military rites and community support in his hometown of Wappingers Falls, New York.
This solemn occasion came over 80 years after Darrigan left behind his wife and newborn son.
In the coming days, the remains of other crew members will also find their final resting places: 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly in Livermore, California, and pilot 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson and navigator 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick are scheduled for interment in the following months.
The journey to return these heroes to their families began 12 years ago when Scott Althaus, a relative of Kelly, embarked on a quest to uncover the fate of the ill-fated bomber.
“I’m just so grateful,” Althaus expressed to The Associated Press.
“It’s been an impossible journey — just should never have been able to get to this day. And here we are, 81 years later.”
In recounting the circumstances of March 11, 1944, it is notable that the bomber Heaven Can Wait had a colorful cartoon pin-up angel adorning its nose.
On its final flight, the crew was on a mission to bomb Japanese targets when enemy fire struck the plane, resulting in its catastrophic descent into the Pacific.
Those flying alongside the doomed bomber were unable to confirm any survivors.
The legacy of the crew lived on through the pain of their loved ones, many of whom remained tight-lipped about their grief.
The loss was profound, especially for Sheppick and Tennyson, who were 26 and 24, respectively, and left behind pregnant wives eager for letters from the front.
Darrigan, holding his newborn son at a baptism just before the mission, also had his wife Florence who kept photos and a telegram informing her of his death.
Tennyson’s wife, Jean, held onto hope and never remarried, believing until her passing that her husband would eventually return.
The search for the lost bomber was rekindled on Memorial Day 2013 when Althaus, a political science and communications professor, sought to honor the memory of family members who fought in World War II.
After learning of Kelly’s story, his childhood visits to Kelly’s memorial stone fueled his determination to uncover what had happened to the bomber.
With the support of various relatives, Althaus meticulously analyzed historical documents and conflicting eyewitness accounts of the crash site.
After a four-year investigation, he concluded that the bomber likely went down off Awar Point in what is now Papua New Guinea.
This report was provided to Project Recover, a nonprofit organization devoted to locating missing American service members alongside the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).
In 2017, after evaluating nearly 10 square miles of the seafloor, Project Recover located the debris field of Heaven Can Wait.
With further developments, the DPAA conducted its deepest underwater recovery mission in 2023.
Navy divers were able to recover personal items, including dog tags and a ring belonging to Kelly, which had its engraving still legible.
The recovered human remains underwent DNA analysis, and in September, the military confirmed the identities of Darrigan, Kelly, Sheppick, and Tennyson.
Despite the closure brought for these four men, seven crew members remain unaccounted for, prompting the possibility of future recovery missions.
On Saturday, over 200 people attended Darrigan’s funeral in Wappingers Falls, with mourners lining the streets to pay their respects.
“After 80 years, this great soldier has come home to rest,” Darrigan’s great-niece Susan Pineiro told the gathered crowd.
Though Darrigan’s son passed away in 2020, his grandson Eric Schindler was present to honor his legacy.
Kelly’s remains have now arrived in the Bay Area, where he is scheduled for burial Monday near his family’s memorial stone, which also commemorates his service.
A procession featuring members of Veterans of Foreign Wars will take place in honor of Kelly, heralding a bittersweet homecoming.
“Tom Kelly’s memory is likely here to stay,” Althaus remarked as he continued to contribute to Project Recover as a volunteer.
Sheppick is set to be laid to rest in a cemetery in Coal Center, Pennsylvania, alongside his parents.
His niece Deborah Wineland reflected on the significance of the burial for their family, especially considering Sheppick’s younger brother’s wishes following his passing.
Lastly, Tennyson will find his final resting place beside his wife in Wichita, Kansas, with a service scheduled for June 27.
“Tennyson’s story reflects his wife’s enduring hope, embodying the belief that he would someday return,” said Scott Jefferson.
The families’ journeys to secure a proper farewell reflect the lasting impact of war and the power of unwavering hope.
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