After 81 Years, the Crew of “Heaven Can Wait” Finally Comes Home

Back in March 1944, a B-24 bomber named Heaven Can Wait was shot down off the coast of New Guinea during a mission to hit Japanese targets. All 11 crew members were lost, and for decades, their remains were considered unrecoverable.

Fast forward 81 years, and four of those men are finally making it home—thanks to a determined family member, a deep-sea recovery team, and a mission that defied the odds.

Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, the radio operator, was laid to rest in his New York hometown with military honors, surrounded by family, flags, and quiet respect. In California, 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, the bombardier, was buried near a marker that’s stood for him since the war ended. A group of veterans on motorcycles even rode past his old school to pay tribute.

Their remains were found 200 feet underwater, recovered by Navy divers in the deepest mission of its kind. Dog tags, a ring, and bits of their story were brought back to the surface after years of searching.

What kicked it all off? A Memorial Day chat between Scott Althaus and his mom. He’d asked about relatives lost in WWII—and that simple question led to a 12-year journey to bring these heroes home.

Now, after decades of waiting, their families can finally lay them to rest.