U.S.
GalleryArmy Air Forces sergeant, killed during WWII, buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery
Stars and Stripes
April 11, 2024
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving R. Newman, killed in action in 1943, were buried with full military honors Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” performed the ceremony. A U.S. flag was presented to Newman’s nephew, Edwin Wurster, during the funeral service.
Newman, a native of Los Angeles, was assigned to the 343d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force.
On May 6, 1943, Newman and nine other crew members of a B-24D Liberator were flying a bombing mission at Reggio di Calabria harbor in Sicily. While heading to the target, the plane experienced engine failure, forcing the pilots to make a course correction away from the main bomber group and directly into enemy anti-aircraft fire. During an emergency landing, the plane caught fire and crashed into the water near Benghajsa Point, Malta.
Nine airmen survived. Newman could not be rescued, and he was declared unrecoverable after the war.
Recently, the University of Malta and a private company located the wreckage of a B-24D near Benghajsa Point at a depth of 180 feet. Beginning in 2018, a partner organization supported by DPAA archaeology recovered material evidence, life support equipment and suspected human remains from the crash site.
To identify Newman’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and dental analysis.
Newman was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on June 20, 2023.
A firing party from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) fires three rifle volleys during military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”, conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”, conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Apr. 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” conduct military funeral honors with funeral escort for U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. Irving Newman in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 11, 2024. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery )
