Chapter 3 - Loose Ends

Some six weeks later, Diana , having received and reviewed the IDPF, wrote the following email to Steve Duncan and Jim Graham:

April 23,1999

Dear Jim and Steve, You both have been so helpful in putting me on the right path to find anything about my uncle KIA in Italy, I thought you might like to know what has happened since we last corresponded. Jim, I wrote the agency you recommended, and yesterday I received a packet of information. Much like the pilot you researched, there was a search conducted in the Bolzano area after the war (I can't determine exactly when from the documentation -- sometime before August 1947. No remains were recovered, but the report goes on to say, "all American deceased (14 in all) that were recovered from any aircraft that crashed in the area during the course of the war had been interred at the local civilian cemeteries and at a later date removed to an established US military cemetery by American AGRS personnel." It goes on to say they were interred at the US Military Cemetery, Mirandola, as "Unknown American Soldiers."

A later document from the Memorial Division dated December 1952 mentions my uncle and the other pilot who went down on 20 Oct 1944, remains of whom had subsequently been approved "Non Recoverable. Fragmentary remains" and could not be definitely associated with my uncle, were assigned a CIL designation, changed from Unknown X-70035 (Grieshiem/Main Mausoleum). I don't know what a CIL designation is, but they did assign the remains a number on 15 Dec 1952. This is where it gets interesting: The Memorial Division also forwarded to the Army Effects Agency in Kansas City my uncle's identification bracelet to be "held by you without disposition until further notice from this office."

Then on 10 Aug 1954 the bracelet was requested to be returned to the Quartermaster General, requesting that it be retained with the case file for Unknown CIL-5034 "until the case is resolved." That's the last we see of it. But what's most distressing is -- that's the first we've heard of it. You'd think if his ID bracelet was discovered with some remains, they'd have a pretty good idea it was him and at least notify his mother of the discovery. There is a question posed in the file by a clerk who asked if any record reveals if he was married, so at least someone was thinking about the possibility of letting someone know. My grandmother didn't pass away until 1976. She certainly deserved more than the unresolved "missing - presumed dead" status that they left her with. Ironically, a letter to her dated 29 August 1949 ended with, "I wish to assure you that, should any additional evidence come to our attention indicating that his remains are in our possession, you will be informed immediately."

I wrote a letter today to the Personnel Records Center in St. Louis requesting copies of their records. I'm not too optimistic about the results I'll get, because I understand there was a fire there in 1973, and many of the records were lost. I'm not sure what to do next, but I would like to pursue at least getting his ID bracelet back and finding out where the remains of CIL-5034 are. I know it would mean a lot to my mother to know that perhaps parts of him are resting in an actual grave. Having his name inscribed on the Wall of the Missing is nice, but it's not closure. I guess my next trip to Italy will include a visit to the American Cemetery in Mirandola.

Steve, I wrote Myron Hutchins, the 1st FG alum you tracked to Colorado Springs who was the squadron leader on Bill's last mission, but it's been two months and I haven't gotten a response. I don't expect he can help much with details of the crash, but a personal memory would be nice. Anyway, thank you both again for all your help. I wouldn't have known where to begin, and you've put me on the right track.

Best regards, Diana Dale ------------------------------------------------------

There were certainly lots of loose ends left open by the 'final' document on Bill Wisner. Diana deserved better than to be left hanging on those loose ends. It was time to bring in some of the team that had tracked down the likely site of Carl Hoenshell's crash. One very helpful and influential volunteer on that team was Bill Jordan, a former high ranking official in the CILHI (Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaiian Islands). Bill had directed that team toward the proper agency in Europe that would be responsible for doing any official excavation or exhumation of remains should a specific crash site be identified. Jim forwarded Diana's message to Bill requesting him to advise Diana how she should contact CIL concerning the whereabouts of her uncle's identification bracelet.

April 24, 1999

Dear Bill-- Last year about this time, you were in contact with Dick Kahler and assisted in the search effort for the crash site of Carl Hoenshell. I understand from one of your messages to Dick that you were with the CIL during the early '90's. I have recently tried to aid Ms. Diana Dale in finding information about her uncle who went down in Italy. Could you possibly give her a lead on how to contact the CIL concerning the whereabouts of the identification bracelet mentioned in her message that I have enclosed below? We would appreciate your help.

Thanks Jim Graham -----------------------------------------------------

The message was also copied to Dick Kahler, the California executive who was 'the point man' of the Hoenshell search team. That was just enough bait to get Kahler hooked once more for another lost airman mystery.

April 24, 1999

Jim, I assume that Wisner is the pilots name. What outfit was he with? the 71st? What was his date and mission? What can I do to help?

Dick -------------------------------------------------

Jordan responded promptly the next day giving names and phone numbers of top level individuals and agencies that could help unravel some of the loose ends related to the post-war handling of Lt. Bill Wisner's deceased personnel files. Diana thanked Jordan and emailed that she would proceed to make those contacts immediately---- "

…. even though it's probably searching for the needle in a haystack, but there are some very nice people helping me."