By John Q. Hosedrinker 
After a 12-year investigation spurred by a family member’s curiosity, the remains of four crew members from the B-24 bomber Heaven Can Wait, shot down in 1944, have been recovered from the Pacific Ocean floor. A collaborative effort involving family research, Project Recover, and a DPAA deep-sea recovery mission led to the identification and repatriation of the remains. Staff Sergeant Eugene Darrigan and Second Lieutenant Thomas Kelly have already received military burials, while the burials of First Lieutenant Herbert Tennyson and Second Lieutenant Donald Sheppick will follow in the coming months. This remarkable undertaking brings closure to families who waited over eight decades for the return of their loved ones.
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The story of the B-24 Liberator bomber, christened *Heaven Can Wait*, is a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of World War II. Eleven airmen perished when their plane crashed, their bodies presumed lost to the ocean depths, deemed “non-recoverable.” Yet, remarkably, after eight decades submerged, four of these brave men are finally coming home.
This is a story not just of a tragic loss, but of enduring love and unwavering hope. Consider the wives left behind – the pregnant wife of Sheppick, writing two or three letters a day to her absent husband; the wife of Tennyson, Jean, who lived to the age of 96, never remarrying, never giving up belief in his return. The devotion of these women is heartbreaking and inspiring, a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable grief. Florence Darrigan, another widow, quietly kept photos and the telegram announcing her husband’s death, a precious collection of memories that now holds a new, bittersweet significance. Darrigan, a young father, had even been able to attend his son’s baptism before being called to duty. A simple photograph, showing him smiling as he held his child, encapsulates a lifetime of love abruptly cut short.
The successful recovery of these remains, after so many years, is a technical marvel. The notion of scattered bones and scavengers initially comes to mind, a picture that paints a bleak image. However, the conditions of the crash, the confined nature of the aircraft itself, and perhaps even the manner in which the plane impacted the water, might have played a role in preserving fragments enabling identification. A B-24 is not spacious; think cramped quarters, narrow passageways, and even smaller compartments for certain crew positions. It’s easy to envision scenarios where bodies might have been relatively protected from the sea’s relentless forces, particularly considering the design of bomb bay doors, which reportedly lead to faster sinking in water compared to other bombers of the time.
The possibility of finding enough skeletal material for positive identification might seem improbable after so much time. Yet, this was seemingly achieved. It likely wasn’t complete skeletons, but significant enough fragments to connect the remains to specific individuals. This is a testament to both the advanced techniques used in recovery and, perhaps, a stroke of fortunate circumstance. The men’s final resting place, in the ocean’s depths, served, against all odds, as a kind of unexpected tomb, shielding them from the elements and the passage of time.
This homecoming is a profoundly emotional event, not just for the families involved but also for the nation at large. It offers a chance for closure and healing, a powerful symbol of remembrance for the sacrifices made during wartime. The enduring image of those men, young and full of life, now returning after all these years evokes a wave of emotion. It is an occasion for gratitude and appreciation for their bravery, their dedication, and their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice. Their service will never be forgotten, and now, finally, they are coming home.
Their story reminds us that even after decades, even after what seemed like insurmountable odds, hope can endure. The long wait is over for these brave airmen. The wives, the children, the grandchildren, and all those who carried the weight of their absence finally have the opportunity to give them a proper farewell. The name of their plane, *Heaven Can Wait*, takes on a deeper, more resonant meaning as these fallen soldiers are granted the homecoming they so richly deserve, a reunion made possible after decades of waiting. They are coming home. They are coming home to their families, and to their nation’s grateful embrace.