For Immediate Release

December 5, 1996

Remains of Aircrew Recovered from Burmese Jungle.

Ottawa --Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) today announced that a recovery team of VAC - National Defence - Foreign Affairs personnel has found and recovered partial remains of the crew members of KN 563, an RCAF airplane declared missing over Burma (also known as Myanmar) on June 21, 1945.

On Sunday, December 1, the recovery team arrived at the site of the wreckage, which was located last week by the Myanmar military. Over the past three days, the team confirmed the identity of the airplane and endeavoured to identify the remains of the missing crew. Although remains were recovered, identification of individual crew members was not possible. Earlier today, the remains of the missing crew were transported to Rangoon and entrusted to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pending the organization of an official burial ceremony. The recovery team is expected to depart Rangoon in the next couple of days.

Journalists who would like to accompany the burial delegation should notify the Department by January 21, 1997. Interested journalists should note the following:

"My heart goes out to the relatives of these missing airmen," said Lawrence MacAulay, Secretary of State (Veterans). "I share their sense of relief that their loved ones have been found but I know this mission must bring back the pain and sorrow they felt so many years ago."

"The success of this mission is a testament to Canada's commitment to never forget those who made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of our country," added MacAulay. "I commend the recovery team for their professionalism, dedication and commitment in finding these missing airmen so that we can pay them the respect they so richly deserve."

The crew members of KN 563 were William Rogers of Halifax, Nova Scotia; William Kyle of Perth, Ontario; David Cameron of Oshawa, Ontario; Charles McLaren of Campbellville, Ontario; Stanley Cox of Beresford, Manitoba; and Cornelius Kopp of Duchess, Alberta.

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For further information contact:

Alec Connelly
Senior Communications Officer
(613) 992-7468