Who was James Litherland? Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Cause of Death

James Litherland Wiki - James Litherland Biography

Nearly eight decades after his death, a Pennsylvania Army Air Force pilot from World War II was discovered, according to military officials. Second Lieutenant James Litherland, 25, of South Williamsport was found in March, according to information released last week by the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Following a bombing operation on a German V-2 rocket site at Bois-Coquerel, France, in February 1944, Litherland was co-piloting a B-17F Flying Fortress that was struck by flak. Litherland and six other crew members were still on the aircraft when it crashed near Le Translay, France, according to reports. Three servicemen managed to jump to safety.

James Litherland Age

James Litherland was 73 years old.

James Litherland Cause of Death

Near the collision site, six sets of debris were found, however only five of them could be recognised. More debris from the accident site was found in 2018, and the unidentified bones were dug up from a French cemetery. The remains were recognised as belonging to Litherland by dental, anthropological, and DNA investigations, according to the authorities.

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Litherland's daughter, Suzanne Walker, described the attempts to identify his remains as "incredible," according to PennLive.com. Walker, who was informed that the rescue team used Google maps to pinpoint the crash site and performed a hand excavation to find the remains, said she could "imagine my mother's pain" because she was born the day of the disaster. Now, she does.

"That was the biggest surprise," she remarked. I never anticipated it. Walker admitted that she doesn't remember much about her father and that she hopes someone will come forward with pictures or other memorabilia. She discovered from her study that he loved the outdoors and that, along with some pals, he had constructed a slide on a mountaintop not far from her home.

He ponders "what might have been." He'd be a great-grandfather by this time. In Williamsport, Litherland will be laid to rest. Walker stated that he had the option of burying his father in France but chose not to because he "wanted her to be with his family." There is a headstone for him in the Wildwood Cemetery, which also contains the graves of his father and grandfather, she said.

Along with other World War II veterans still unaccounted for, Literland's name can be found on the Tablets of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium. According to military officials, a rosette will be placed next to his name to show that he has been located.

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