NH World War II Bombardier Finally Coming Home

PETERBOROUGH, NH — A New Hampshire bombardier killed during World War II is finally coming home. The remains of Peterborough's Roy Davis were discovered in Papua New Guinea. Davis was killed in March 1944 when his bomber crashed during an attack run against Japanese forces occupying the island. He was 26 years old and set to be married to a woman named Molly he met in Australia while on furlough.

Remains found in a remote area of Papua New Guinea in 2001 were identified as Davis in 2013, according to the Department of Defense. His remains were flown back to the United States this year and he will be buried June 23 with military honors in at Glenwood Cemetery in Ashby, Massachusetts. The service is at 11 a.m.

Davis was a gunner aboard an A-20 Havoc bomber. He was born in Ashby and grew up in Peterborough, according to his obituary. He was the oldest of five sons and an "accomplished" auto mechanic and motorcycle enthusiast.

"Roy enjoyed working on his own cars and those of friend and relatives," his obituary reads. "He worked on farms with his father."

Shortly before his death, he met a woman named Molly Patterson in Australia while he was on a furlough.

"They fell in love and were to be married on his next furlough," his obituary reads.

The Department of Defense says there are still about 72,000 American soldiers unaccounted for from World War II.

Last month, a Massachusetts Marine who died saving a fellow soldier in Guadalcanal during World War II was finally buried after his remains were discovered.

Related:

• Obituary: Roy Davis, World War II Gunner
• Massachusetts World War II Hero Finally Buried After 76 Years

Lead photo: New Hampshire bombardier Roy Davis. (Credit: U.S. Department of Defense)