A World War II airman from Covington is finally coming home. U.S. Army Air Force Sgt. Henry H. Allen Jr., who was killed in action nearly 80 years ago, has been identified, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Allen was confirmed on June 20, 2024, after decades of efforts to recover and identify his remains.
✈️ Why It Matters: The identification of Sgt. Allen brings long-awaited closure to his family and community and is a reminder the ongoing efforts to leave no soldier lost during conflict behind, even bringing them home decades later.
🕵️ What’s Happening: Allen, a 20-year-old turret gunner, was on a bombing mission over Germany in 1944 when his aircraft, a B-24H “Liberator” named Little Joe, was shot down by enemy fire. All ten airmen aboard were declared missing in action after witnesses reported no crew members escaped before the plane crashed near Salzwedel, Germany.
- In the years following the war, efforts to locate the crash site failed, despite German documentation of downed planes in the area.
- New information emerged in 2015, leading to a renewed search.
🚨 Between the Lines: It took decades of research, excavations, and DNA analysis to identify Allen’s remains, with key breakthroughs coming as late as 2023. Investigators from the DPAA, along with independent researchers, uncovered wreckage and human remains at a previously unexplored crash site in Germany.
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📅 The Big Picture: This discovery is a reminder of the commitment of the U.S. government and independent researchers to accounting for every service member lost in action, even in wars long past. As Allen is finally brought home to Georgia, it serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served, and the lasting impact on the families they left behind.
