An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Dec. 10, 2024

Remains of World War II Airman Returned Home

By Mark Olsen, New Jersey National Guard

WRIGHTSTOWN, N.J. - New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers carried the flag-draped coffin of a World War II Airman in a ceremony attended by family members, friends and state veteran organization representatives at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery Dec. 9.

Following a three-volley salute and the playing of Taps, U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William Scott’s family was presented his awards. They included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart Medal, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and his World War II navigator wings.

Scott served six months and six days of active service. He was 21 years old.

On Aug. 1, 1943, the Clifton, New Jersey, resident was serving as a navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber, assigned to the 68th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force. His aircraft was one of 178 bombers that participated in Operation Tidal Wave.

Targeting Nazi-controlled Romanian territory, five B-24 bomb groups hit the nine most important Ploiești refineries. Romania produced 60% of the Axis’ crude oil and 27 to 35% of refined or synthetic oil. 

The 98th and 376th Bombardment Groups, based in North Africa, and the 44th, 93rd and 389th Bombardment Groups from the Eighth Air Force in England participated in Operation Tidal Wave. Scott’s bomber was one of 54 aircraft shot down.

Scott’s remains, along with those of other American Airmen, were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiești, Prahova, Romania.

Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command, the organization that searches for and recovers fallen American personnel, disinterred all American remains from the Bolovan Cemetery. The AGRC was unable to identify more than 80 unknowns, and those remains were permanently interred at Ardennes American Cemetery and Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, both in Belgium.

Scott’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with others still missing from World War II.

In 2017, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began exhuming unknowns believed to be associated with unaccounted-for Airmen from Operation Tidal Wave. These remains were sent to the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for examination and identification.

To identify Scott’s remains, DPAA scientists used anthropological analysis and circumstantial evidence. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used Y chromosome DNA analysis.

On Nov. 28, 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Scott’s remains had been identified.
On Dec. 9, 2024, Scott returned home.

In Italy, at the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, a rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

 

 

Related Articles
Members of the New Jersey Air National Guard and National Guard of the Republic of Cyprus pose for a group photo during training on Nov. 21, 2024, at Camp Panteli Katelari, Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus National Guard and the NJNG collaborated on NCO best practices.
New Jersey National Guard, Cyprus Strengthen Partnership
By Capt. Tyshawn Jenkins, | Feb. 4, 2025
CAMP PANTELI KATELARI, Cyprus - The New Jersey National Guard and the Republic of Cyprus National Guard’s 50th Communication Information Squadron exchanged best practices in cybersecurity and leadership development as part of...

New Jersey National Guard members participate in a simulated training event during a Joint Staff training course conducted by North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command at the NJNG Joint Operations Center in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Jan. 12​​, 2025. The Joint Staff training course ​focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management in New Jersey and beyond.
New Jersey Guard Hosts U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff Training
By New Jersey National Guard | Jan. 16, 2025
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The New Jersey National Guard hosted a U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management in New Jersey and beyond...

Guardsmen from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin participate in a two-week Army National Guard Defensive Deployable Cyber Operations Systems-Modular Master Gunner Course at Jackson Barracks, a Louisiana National Guard installation in New Orleans, Oct. 28 to Nov. 7, 2024.
NGB Hosts Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations Systems-Modular Master Gunner Course
By Staff Sgt. David C. Kirtland, | Nov. 13, 2024
NEW ORLEANS – The National Guard Bureau hosted the second Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations Systems-Modular (DDS-M) Master Gunner Course at Louisiana National Guard’s Jackson Barracks Oct. 28 to Nov. 7.The course,...