Missing Korean War Serviceman Identified

[Shortdawg]

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 197-05
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 25, 2005
Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

Missing Korean War Serviceman Identified


The Department of Defense announced today that the remains of a U. S. Air
Force pilot, missing in action from the Korean War, has been identified and will
soon be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.



Air Force Captain Troy "Gordie" Cope of Norfolk, Ark., will be buried in
Plano, Texas, on May 31.



On Sept. 16, 1952, Cope and his wingman, both flying F-86 Saber Jets
from Kimpo Air Base in South Korea, encountered six MiG-15s of the North Korean Air
Force. Cope was flying near the Yalu River, separating North Korea from China, on
combat air patrol in an area known as "MiG Alley." In the ensuing aerial dogfight,
Cope lost contact with his wingman and was never seen again.



In 1995, an American businessman saw a metal dogtag belonging to Cope in
the military museum in Dandong, China. He copied the data and reported it to U.S.
authorities, yet inquiries to both the Chinese and North Korean governments yielded
no further leads.



Then in 1999, during archival research by analysts of the Defense
POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO), documents about Cope's shootdown were
discovered in Russian archives in Podolsk. These archives held documents that
included statements and drawings by the Russian pilots who were flying the MiG-15s
for the North Koreans. Also included were detailed reports on the ground search
carried out by Russian and Chinese officials in Dandong where the crash site was
located.



After DPMO's discussions with the Chinese government in 2003, a team of
specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command excavated the site in May
2004 and found aircraft debris and human remains which were identified in October.
Dandong citizens and officials assisted the team throughout the excavation, and
were praised by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel
Affairs Jerry D. Jennings.



"Without the assistance of the people of Dandong, this would not have
been possible. The family of Troy Cope and the American people express our
appreciation to all those who helped us bring Troy Cope home again," said Jennings.



Of the 88,000 Americans missing from all conflicts, 8,100 are MIA from
the Korean War.

[the humper]

Korean War Project administrators attended the services for Him.
And now may he rest, home, in peace!!!!!!!
SF
NC