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WWII Airman Lt. Thomas Kelly Jr. Laid to Rest in Livermore After 81 Years

The remains of Lt. Kelly, whose plane was shot down in 1944, were recovered through years of research and collaboration, culminating in a Memorial Day homecoming.

Diane Christie wears a necklace with a photograph of her uncle, World War II U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, inside Santos Robinson Mortuary, Friday, May 23, 2025, in San Leandro, Calif. whose remains had been missing since being killed when the World War II bomber nicknamed Heaven Can Wait was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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An American flag is folded during the interment for World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan at the cemetery behind St. Mary's church, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. Darrigan was buried in his hometown after his remains were recovered from a World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
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Overview

  • Lt. Thomas Kelly Jr., a WWII bombardier from Livermore, California, was laid to rest in his hometown 81 years after being declared missing in action.
  • Kelly's B-24D bomber, 'Heaven Can Wait,' was shot down over Papua New Guinea in 1944, leaving his family without closure for decades.
  • His cousin, Scott Althaus, began researching the crash in 2013, eventually collaborating with Project Recover and the U.S. Navy to locate and recover the remains.
  • The crash site was discovered in 2018, and Kelly's remains, along with those of three other crew members, were identified in 2023 after a military excavation.
  • A memorial ceremony was held in Livermore, and the city announced plans to build a memorial in Kelly's honor to recognize his sacrifice and service.