Remains of Utah WWII Pilot Finally Return Home After Decades

The Crash in 1944

On July 8, 1944, First Lieutenant George “Frankie” Wilson of Bountiful, Utah, flew as part of a nine-man crew aboard a B-17 bomber during a mission over France. Just two minutes before reaching their target, the aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. Despite being wounded and losing control of the plane, Wilson managed to steer it away from a nearby town. His actions allowed his crew to bail out and prevented further loss of life on the ground.

Wilson was killed in the crash, and the plane went down in a field near the town of Monchy-Cayeux, France. The wreck remained mostly undisturbed for decades. Over time, his family held onto hope but never had answers—until new research brought change.

The Search Begins

In 2018, Erik Bornemeier, the husband of Wilson’s great-niece, found declassified records that pointed to the likely crash site. He traveled to France and, with help from locals and a reporter, began searching the fields. On July 8, exactly 74 years after the crash, they discovered wreckage from the plane. Within 25 minutes, the team had a box full of aircraft parts.

Over the next few years, further excavations were carried out. In 2021 and 2022, human remains were recovered from the crash site. The process of identification took time, but in late 2024, Wilson was finally identified through DNA testing.

A Long-Awaited Return

Now, 80 years later, Lt. Wilson is coming home. His remains will be buried in Bountiful, next to his parents and sister. The ceremony will take place on July 8 with full military honors, including a gun salute and flyover. Bornemeier will escort Wilson’s remains and said, “I get to bring George back to his mom.”