US airman returns home after going missing for more than 80 years during World War II

LIVERMORE, Calif. (KGO) - More than 80 years after a young Air Force pilot was shot down, his family never fully gave up hope. Now, thanks to the help of technology, they can finally rest.

U.S. Army Air Force Lt. Thomas Kelly served in World War II, and 81 years later, he is finally coming home.

“We didn’t have the closure. But now we have it. He is home,” Sandy Althaus, Kelly’s cousin, said.

In March 1944, Lt. Kelly was deployed to Papua New Guinea. On the morning of March 11, his plane was shot down.

Althaus was just 3 years old when Kelly died.

Growing up, she says it was too painful for the family to talk about it. Then came Memorial Day 2013.

“I started a few hours of internet research, which very quickly found information about the final mission. And that started what would become a 12-year journey,” Althaus said.

Althaus’ son, Scott, is a professor at the University of Illinois and researches wartime communications. He had been working on military casualty data from World War II, which piqued his interest in his own family.

Using the information they found, they reached out to Project Recover, which helps research and return missing U.S. military personnel.

“We were fortunate that, in spite of the catastrophic nature of the crash, enough of it was held together to do the recovery,” Patrick Scannon with Project Recover said.

With the help of the U.S. Navy, Project Recover used advanced robotics to search Hansa Bay, where they found Kelly’s plane 215 feet underwater.

DNA testing confirmed the remains found to be those of Kelly.

On Friday, his body was returned to the U.S.

“His sacrifice in the service of our country. He sacrificed so we could be free. That was his job. And he said, if he could help his country, it’s worth it all,” Althaus said. “So, great to see you again, have you here, to welcome you home. This is where you belong.”

Kelly will be buried on Monday in his hometown of Livermore.

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