 He was just 25, a member of the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group, when the B-24J Liberator bomber he was piloting during a mission was hit by enemy aircraft fire near Burma on December 1, 1943. Although remains of those believed to be involved in the crash were recovered in 1947, they couldn't be scientifically identified at the time. In January of this year, McLaughlin's remains were identified.