After Nearly 82 Years, World War II Pilot Killed in Action to Be Buried
Published on Friday, August 28, 2026
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August 28, 2026 Media Advisory
Contact: Parker Gavigan
After Nearly 82 Years, World War II Pilot Killed in Action to Be Buried
What: Decades after 1st Lt. Franklin H. McKinney went missing during a World War II mission, his remains will be interred next to his parents in Wakefield. McKinney grew up in Narrangansett and graduated from South Kingstown High School in 1941 before serving his nation.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), McKinney, 21, was killed in November of 1944 and remained unaccounted for until May 2026. McKinney was a pilot with the 35th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 14th Air Force. DPPA says that on Nov. 5, he was flying an F5E-2-LO Lightning on a reconnaissance mission from Yunnanyi, China, to targets in Thailand and Burma when he failed to return. Decades later, researchers discovered a crash site in Thailand and recovered human remains, which, through DNA testing, were determined to be Lt. McKinney.
Who:
Where: Riverside Cemetery 169 High Street Wakefield, RI When: Friday, August 28th 1 PM |