JAV lakūnų palaikų paieška Macikuose

LT2021 m. Macikų kaime (Šilutės r., Šilutės sen.), H. Zudermano gatvėje, saugomoje Macikų nacistinės Vokietijos karo belaisvių stovyklos ir Tarybų Sąjungos Gulago lagerio objektų komplekso (UK 17035) teritorijoje JAV gynybos departamento DPAA institucijos (angl. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) prašymu, dalyvaujant jų atstovams, bendradarbiaujant su JAV ambasada, vykdyti detalieji tyrimai. Tyrimų užsakovas – JAV Gynybos departamento karo belaisvių ir dingusių kovos veiksmuose apskaitos agentūra ((angl. U.S. Department of Defense Prisoner Of War/ Misssing In Action (POW/ MIA) Accounting Agency). Tyrimus atliko KVGT ir MB „Arksaika“. Jų tikslas buvo surasti, identifikuoti ir iškelti 3 JAV karių kapus bei perduoti juos atsakingai institucijai karių palaikų grąžinimui į kilmės šalį. Tikėtina kapavietė aptikta 2019 m. žvalgant neinvaziniais metodais (T. Rimkus). 2021 m. (I. Čičiurkaitė) lokalizuota kapinių teritorija ir nustatytos jos ribos. Tais pačiais metais atliekant minėtus kapinių lokalizavimo darbus vykdyti palaikų iškėlimo darbai. [...]. [Iš teksto, p. 555]

ENIn 2021, an excavation was carried out in area II of the former cemetery of the WWII POW camp in Macikai (Šilutė district in western Lithuania). Trench 9 covered a 77 m2 area and exposed a row of burials comprised of 10 individual grave cuts. The bodies were oriented in the NW–SE direction, with heads facing SE. The bodies were buried individually, at a depth of 95–124 cm, in an extended supine position. Three were identified as US pilots imprisoned at the Stalag Luft VI POW camp. Grave 7 was that of Sgt William F. Teaff, a B-17 bomber radio operator from the 100th Bomber Group of the 351st Bomber Squadron. Grave 8 belonged to Sgt George B. Walker, a B-17 aerial engineer and top turret gunner from the 306th Bomber Group of the 369th Bomber Squadron. The remains in grave 10 were identified as those of Sgt Walter Nies, a B-17 tail turret gunner from the 96th Bomber Squadron of the 2nd Bomber Group. Grave 9 was identified as that of Canadian Air Force Officer Keith O. Perry. Other remains were those of adult males. Reconstructed height ranged from 167.7 cm to 174.5 cm. No traumas or pathologies were observed; treated and untreated dental diseases were noted. The likely cause of death of one individual was an abdominal injury. Grave 7 contained a US army ID tag and two buttons. The individual in grave 8 had a golden US pilot ring on their right hand, some shreds of fabric were found adjacent to the body, and the chest area was covered with a cloth. The deceased was buried with shoes on, and some fir branches were found underneath the body. Grave 10 contained a surgical drainage tube with a safety pin. The cemetery of the Stalag Luft VI POW camp was in use between the summer of 1943 and 10 July 1944. After the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) confirmed their identities, the remains of the three American pilots were repatriated to the US. [From the publication]