Golden Gate National Cemetery
Section F Grave 43

On 15 October 1948, a casket was placed in this grave. Supposedly it contained the bodies of four flyers lost during World War II on a training flight. Group burials are not uncommon for aircrews, tank crews, etc. where individual identification is not possible (at that time). Thee are over 10,000 such burials around the world. The secret may have gone on forever if it wasn't for global warming.

The aircraft, an AT-7 #41-21079, departed Mather Field, California, on 18 November 1942, on a routine navigational training flight. The pilot was 2Lt. William R. Gamber of Fulton County Ohio. His three students on this flight were Aviation Cadets John W. Mortenson of Latah County Idaho, Ernest G. Munn of Belmont County Ohio and Leo M. Mustomen of Crow Wing County Minnesota.

When the aircraft and crew failed to return to their base a search was begun that went on for weeks with negative results. The war went on and then ended. The crew became just one of many listed as missing. But in 1947, that would change.

Hikers on Darwin Glacier, California stumbled across aircraft wreckage. A search party was dispatched to the site. They were able to confirm that it was indeed the missing aircraft. However, it was clearly stated in the after action report that no bodies had been found. Only one small piece of frozen flesh that became the group burial.

By 2005, the glacier had melted sufficiently to reveal the body of Mustomen. In 2006, the body of Munn was recovered.

It was at this time that the Department of Defense announced that the other two bodies were in the casket and the case was closed. We are of the opinion that the remaining two bodies are still on the glacier. Only time will tell.