WARWICK, R.I. — The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Army Air Forces 1st Lt. John Crouchley Jr., were among those on hand as the remains of the heroic World War II airman came home to Rhode Island.
Crouchley’s remains were transferred on Thursday to T.F. Green Airport. A funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Bristol.
The military says Crouchley was piloting a B-24H Liberator that was shot down and crashed in Bulgaria in June 1944. Before the crash, the 26-year-old continued to pilot the aircraft, allowing nine other crewmembers to bail out and survive.
Crouchley’s remains were discovered in 2017 and positively identified last September.
John Dudley Crouchley IV and Autumn Williams watched as their grandfather’s remains arrived at the airport.
Williams said it was remarkable that he was finally home after 75 years.
