SOUTH PARIS — The remains of a World War II serviceman are being buried in Maine 66 years after he was killed when his bomber crashed in the Philippines.

A graveside funeral service for 2nd Lt. Robert Emerson of Norway is being held today at Pine Grove Cemetery in South Paris.

According to his obituary, Emerson was one of six men who died April 3, 1945, when their bomber crashed in the Philippines. The aircraft was recovered two years later, but officials were unable to positively identify Emerson and four of his crew members.

The remains of the five men were laid to rest at a national cemetery in St. Louis, where they remained for decades until eventually they were positively identified through DNA analysis.


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