On June 25, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Myron L. Yaw, missing from World War II.
Yaw entered the service from Ohio and served in the 828th Bombardment Squadron, 485th Bombardment Group. On Dec. 26, 1944, he was the ball turret gunner on board a B-24J Liberator (serial number 42-50486) carrying nine crew members as part of a mission targeting the oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. The B-24J was hit by anti-aircraft fire while over the target, causing it to break in two and crash near the village of Korzonek, Poland. Witnesses in aircraft on the same mission reported that no parachutes were seen to exit before it went down, and all nine members of the crew were killed in the incident. In 2018, a DPAA investigation team completed an archaeological survey of the crash site. Between 2021 and 2025, a DPAA partner organization conducted excavations at the crash site. Evidence recovered, including human remains, material evidence, and life support equipment, was transported to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. There, scientists used modern forensic techniques to identify Yaw.
The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Myron L. Yaw will be returning to Athens County this evening, Friday, September 25, 2026. Local public safety agencies will be at the on and off ramps of US 33 in Nelsonville to salute Sgt. Myron L. Yaw as his procession travels through Nelsonville. We will post an update once we have more information.
The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Myron L. Yaw will be interred October 3, 2026, at Maplewood Cemetery in Glouster, Ohio. Services and interment are being coordinated by Jagers & Sons Funeral Home.
