Washington, DC –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today honored Marylander Tech Sgt Charles Bode of Baltimore as he was finally returned to his family after nearly seven decades of unanswered questions. Sgt Bode was one of 11 servicemen missing in action from World War II who were recently identified.

 

“This is a special day as we take time to pause and honor the return of one of our long missing Marylander’s today. Tech Sgt Charles Bode of Baltimore was missing in action off of the coast of Papua New Guinea for over 67 years while supporting the Pacific Campaign of World War II. I appreciate the sacrifices of all Marylanders serving in our armed forces and am pleased that Sgt Bode and his family can finally find peace after all of these decades,” said Senator Cardin.

 

According to the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO), on November 20, 1943, Bode, along with 10 other B-24D Liberator crew members, took off from Jackson Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea, on an overwater mission near the northern coast of the country. During the mission, the only radio transmission from the crew indicated they were 20 miles northwest of Port Moresby, but they did not return to Jackson Airfield. Subsequent searches failed to uncover any evidence of either the crew or the aircraft. 
                 

 

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