New York Airman to Be Buried in Riverside — 75 Years After His Death in World War II

The flag covering the casket of California National Guard Sgt 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido is folded for presentation to his widow during a memorial service for him at the Riverside National Cemetery on Nov. 21, 2006, in Riverside. Staff Sgt. Vincent J. Rogers, who died in World War II when his bomber crash in the Pacific, will be remembered at the cemetery in May 2019. (Credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

by: Associated Press

Posted: May 27, 2019 / 09:59 AM PDT

Updated: May 27, 2019 / 03:04 PM PDT

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

A New York airman who died in World War II will be buried in Southern California 75 years after his bomber crashed in the Pacific.

The Press-Enterprise reports that a memorial service for Staff Sgt. Vincent J. Rogers will be held June 5 at the Riverside National Cemetery.

Rogers’ remains were identified earlier this year after being recovered from the Pacific atoll of Tarawa.

Rogers of Snyder, New York, and six others crew members died when their B-24 bomber crashed into a lagoon in January 1944.

The airman’s story is the centerpiece of an exhibit at the March Field Air Museum, which is near the airfield where he trained and the Riverside cemetery.

The exhibit features his letters and other artifacts of his service.