WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — As the World War II bomber Heaven Can Wait was hit by enemy fire off the Pacific island of New Guinea on March 11, 1944, the co-pilot managed a final salute to flyers in an adjacent plane before crashing into the water.
All 11 men aboard were killed. Their remains, deep below the vast sea, were designated as non-recoverable.
Click to Gallery
Jason Fetterolf of the U.S. Army Reserve salutes 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 the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Virginia "Ginny" Pineiro holds a folded American flag during the interment for 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 Papaua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
An American flag is folded and given to Virginia "Ginny" Pineiro 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
People attend 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Fallon Haight, 5, center, waves an American flag while waiting for the procession carrying the remains of World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan to pass through, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. Darrigan was buried in his hometown after his remains were recovered from the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
People line the street while they wait for the procession carrying the remains of World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan to pass through, 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders carry the casket, Friday, May 23, 2025, in San Leandro, Calif., containing the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, who 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
People line the street as the procession carrying the remains of World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan passes through to 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Diane Christie holds a recovered dog tag belonging to her uncle, World War II U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, Friday, May 23, 2025, in San Leandro, Calif., whose remains had been missing since being killed when the World War II B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the waters off the coast of Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Memorial cards for World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan sit at the entrance to 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 the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
This 1943 photo shows 10 of the 11 members of the crew of the World War II B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, that went down in the waters of Hansa Bay, Papua New Guinea in 1944, including Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, top row second from right, and, bottom row from left, 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick, 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson, and 2nd Lt. Tomas Kelly, far right. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency via AP)
This undated photo shows the World War II B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, that went down in the waters of Hansa Bay, Papua New Guinea in 1944. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency via AP)
Jason Fetterolf of the U.S. Army Reserve stands during the interment for World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan inside 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 the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
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)
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)
Yet four crew members’ remains are beginning to return to their hometowns after a remarkable investigation by family members and a recovery mission involving elite Navy divers who descended 200 feet (61 meters) in a pressurized bell to reach the sea floor.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Jason Fetterolf of the U.S. Army Reserve salutes 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 the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Virginia "Ginny" Pineiro holds a folded American flag during the interment for 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 Papaua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
An American flag is folded and given to Virginia "Ginny" Pineiro 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
People attend 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Fallon Haight, 5, center, waves an American flag while waiting for the procession carrying the remains of World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan to pass through, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. Darrigan was buried in his hometown after his remains were recovered from the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
People line the street while they wait for the procession carrying the remains of World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan to pass through, 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders carry the casket, Friday, May 23, 2025, in San Leandro, Calif., containing the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, who 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
People line the street as the procession carrying the remains of World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan passes through to 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 Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Diane Christie holds a recovered dog tag belonging to her uncle, World War II U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, Friday, May 23, 2025, in San Leandro, Calif., whose remains had been missing since being killed when the World War II B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the waters off the coast of Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Memorial cards for World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan sit at the entrance to 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 the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
This 1943 photo shows 10 of the 11 members of the crew of the World War II B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, that went down in the waters of Hansa Bay, Papua New Guinea in 1944, including Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, top row second from right, and, bottom row from left, 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick, 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson, and 2nd Lt. Tomas Kelly, far right. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency via AP)
This undated photo shows the World War II B-24 bomber, Heaven Can Wait, that went down in the waters of Hansa Bay, Papua New Guinea in 1944. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency via AP)
Jason Fetterolf of the U.S. Army Reserve stands during the interment for World War II U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan inside 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 the World War II bomber that crashed into the water off the coast of Papua New Guinea on March 11, 1944. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
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)
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)
