![](\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/resizer\/rR1bd-wJ1yfPH3kjaWmob9q3bEs=\/1200x0\/filters:quality(100)\/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-mco.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/KZICRGDUAVBETHED6NT3MY3WFQ.jpg\")
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https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/veterans\/military-history\/2019\/10\/26\/remains-of-army-air-forces-b-17-gunner-identified\/<\/a><\/p>\n The remains of a\u00a0B-17 Flying Fortress<\/a>\u00a0top turret gunner, shot down over Germany in World War II, have been recovered.<\/p>\n Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Willard R. Best, 24, of Staunton, Illinois, was accounted for Sept. 3, the\u00a0Defense POW\/MIA Accounting Agency<\/a>\u00a0announced Oct. 24.<\/p>\n In August 1944, Best was a top turret gunner aboard a\u00a0B-17G<\/a>\u00a0assigned to the 407th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 92nd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 40th Combat Bombardment Wing, 1st Air Division, 8th Air Force. On Aug. 24, the nine-man crew of the\u00a0Flying Fortress<\/a> was conducting a bombing raid over Merseburg, Germany, when it was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed, according to the DPAA.. Four crewmembers survived and were captured by German forces. The other five, including Best, were killed. – article<\/p>\n Per the article, Best will be buried in the spring of 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"