Officials announced Thursday that remains found in Romania have been identified as a man from Lewiston killed during World War II.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said in a press release that U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Max. W. Lower, 23, was accounted for Oct. 9. Lower will be buried on Nov. 23 in his hometown.
“In the summer of 1943, Lower was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force,” the press release said. “On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 aircraft on which Lower was the radio operator crashed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire during Operation Tidal Wave, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania.”
Following the operation, the Romanian government reported they had recovered 216 Americans killed in the raid, 27 of whom were identifiable, the press release said. Lower’s remains were not among the 27. Those not identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.