The US Embassy thanked Thailand for partnering in the search and identification of an American pilot who went missing in Lampang during World War II, 80 years ago, returning him to his family.
On 29 Jun 2026, it was reported that the fan pageU.S. Embassy BangkokThe US Embassy in Thailand posted images and a statement: “Fulfilling America's honorable promise to ‘never leave anyone behind’: In March, Americans and Thais worked together to recover the remains of a pilot missing since World War II, whose plane crashed in Lampang over 80 years ago. We are honored to announce that the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has officially identified the remains as 2nd Lieutenant Franklin McKinney. After more than 80 years of uncertainty, Lt. McKinney has finally returned home to his family.”
We thank the Thai government, local officials in Lampang Province, as well as archaeologists and students from Thammasat University, who worked side by side with DPAA and the UCLA team to bring Lt. McKinney home to his family. These Thai and American volunteers conducted searches over several months in muddy and challenging terrain. Their dedication, expertise, and relentless assistance have brought peace to the McKinney family, who have waited decades. America deeply appreciates its Thai partners.
Information from the U.S. Embassy Bangkok fan page