MISSING AIRMEN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24548, 23 April 1945, Page 6

MISSING AIRMEN

RESEARCH AND INQUIRY WORK (R.N.ZAJ'. Official News Service.) WELLINGTON. April 21. Investigation into the circumstances of air-crew personnel reported missing in the European theatre of war is one of the duties of the recentlyestablished Royal Air Force and Dominion Air Forces, Missing Research and Inquiry Service. The first unit has Paris as its headquarters and' France as its field of inquiry, and already much valuable information has been gathered. The duties of the service also include the checking of information , relative to the death and burial of personnel reported to have lost their lives. Other units- are beginning their work, and * all of them maintain liaison with the Graves Registration Units controlled by the Directorate of Graves Registration and Inquiries, War Office. By this means, it is being ensured that all possible information is collected for the benefit of next-of-kin. Since the co-operation of local inhabitants is necessary to successful investigation, in many cases the process Twill be long and arduous; but it is being found already that local assistance is being given freely, with the result that identity of crews is being established on an increasing scale. As reports are made they are sent immediately to the Air Ministry, London. and there is no delay in the transmission of information to next-of-kin. It is not possible to give priority to any casualty or group of casualties; but everything possible is being done to make the work of the service comprehensive and accurate.