Remains of Oklahoma World War II veteran identified

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ Sixty-two years after he disappeared in the New Guinea jungle, the remains of an Oklahoma World War Two veteran have been identified. <br/><br/>First Lieutenant John S. Hancock

Monday, January 3rd 2005, 5:52 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ Sixty-two years after he disappeared in the New Guinea jungle, the remains of an Oklahoma World War Two veteran have been identified.

First Lieutenant John S. Hancock of Haileyville left for a bombing mission in November 1942 after telling his family he probably would not return home.

The 22-year-old pilot and his crew disappeared when their aircraft slammed into a mountain. But through D-N-A testing, Army officials have confirmed a suspicion Hancock's family revealed three years ago: Hancock has been found.

Flight jackets and other personal belongings were discovered among the World War II wreckage in 2001. The best clue: a gold identification bracelet with ``John S. Hancock'' engraved on the back.