The remains of three airmen missing since the crash of their A-20J bomber in December 1944 over Germany have been identified, the Pentagon announced Feb. 15. They are 2nd Lt. John F. Lubben, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Sgt. Albert A. Forgue, North Providence, R.I.; and Sgt. Charles L. Spiegel, Chicago, Ill. The three airmen will be buried on April 18 in Arlington National Cemetery, DOD said. They left Coullomiers, France on Dec. 12, 1944, crashing near Cologne, Germany. DOD investigators used dental records, mitochondrial DNA, and additional forensic tools as well as circumstantial evidence from German citizens to identify the remains of the three, which had been discovered by chance in 1975 and buried as unknown servicemen thereafter in the Ardennes American Military Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium. In 2003, more evidence came to light that led to their identification.
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…