Be interesting to see what's left. "Work to recover the remains of the crew of an American bomber that crashed in a farmer’s field in June 1944 has begun in Arundel. American Veterans Archaeological Recovery, working with the American Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the University of York and the local community, is carrying out the veterans archaeological excavation at Park Farm over four weeks. Stephen Humphreys, chief executive of AVAR and a research fellow at the University of York, said: “The target for these excavations will be an American B-24 Liberator heavy bomber that crashed with several members of its crew still on board after bombing a target in France in 1944. “This project is unique for several reasons. First, unlike a typical archaeology dig this excavation is aimed at recovering the remains of these service members so they can be returned to the United States." www.chichester.co.uk/news/people/the-arundel-bomber-work-begins-to-recover-remains-of-american-b-24-liberator-aircrew-3285132
*Bumped for an update* They've identified the remains of the pilot. "The mystery of a lost World War II airman has finally been solved as the remains of Lieutenant William Montgomery, 24, are formally identified 79 years after he was killed when his bomber crashed on an English farm. Lieutenant Montgomery had been missing ever since his B-24 Liberator came down on land in West Sussex, in June 1944. Amateur historian Andy Saunders looked into the fate of the bomber in the 1970s and pinpointed the most probable location was a farm in Arundel. But nothing was done about it until 11 years ago when Mr Saunders mentioned his theory of where the wreckage was to a officer with the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) at a conference. It prompted the DPAA to do their own research, culminating in two excavations in 2019 and 2021 carried out with British historians, where a significant amount of human remains were found which were transported to America for DNA testing and it has now been confirmed the remains belonged to Lt Montgomery. He will be buried with full military honours at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia." www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11863023/Remains-Lieutenant-Montgomery-killed-bomber-crashed-English-farm-discovered.html
Technology has gotten so much better in the intervening years. It's always heartening to read stories like this. It seems that almost weekly another soldier, sailor, or airman is being identified using advanced methods. I wish all of them could be identified.
