Body of WWII veteran missing 70 years returns to Houston
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The body of a World War II Army pilot is back in Houston after he went missing 70 years ago.
A plane carrying the remains of Army Air Forces Flight Officer Judson B. Baskett landed just before 8am at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and received a police escort to a local funeral home.
SEE ALSO: Fallen WWII veteran making final journey home to Houston
Baskett's family will bury the veteran on Friday with full honors, according to The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Baskett was on a cargo run from Singapore to Malaysia on November 27, 1945 when he and two other crew members vanished along with their plane. He was just 25 years old.
The remains of the 1305th Army Air Force Base Unit veteran were discovered after 70 years and four efforts to find the plane.
The Army originally did not find a crash site, and eventually declared the pilot and crew dead.
The plane carrying Baskett was originally expected on Tuesday, but was delayed after Delta Air Lines reported a worldwide computer outage on Monday, cancelling hundreds of flights.
A United Airlines flight directly from Honolulu carried Baskett's remains Wednesday to Bush Airport, where he was met by WWII veterans and family members.
We're following this story on Eyewitness News. Watch for updates on air, online and on our mobile news app.
RELATED STORIES
Choir on plane breaks out in song for fallen soldier
RELATED: Korean war veteran's remains returned to Houston
RELATED: In March, the remains of Cpl. Davey H. Bart were returned to Houston
Keep checking back on this page to get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To get alerts for breaking news, download the abc13 news app for iPhone or Android. You can also get breaking news alerts sent to you by email.
