On March 11, 1944, the WWII bomber “Heaven Can Wait” was shot down off New Guinea, killing all 11 crew members, whose remains were deemed non-recoverable. Remarkably, after a 12-year investigation led by family member Scott Althaus, four crew members’ remains are being returned for burial, including Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, interred in Wappingers Falls, New York, and 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, set to be buried in Livermore, California. This emotional journey highlights the enduring impact of war on families and the dedication to bringing their loved ones home, even decades later.
