Remains of 2 Pa. soldiers from WWII identified

WASHINGTON - The remains of five missing members of a World War II Army air crew, including two Pennsylvanians, have been identified, the Pentagon said yesterday.

DNA tests helped identify the remains of Second Lt. Thomas R. Yenner of Kingston and Tech. Sgt. Russell W. Abendschoen of York, which were found 13 years ago in the Netherlands. Also found in 1994 near the town of Arnhem were the remains of First Lt. Cecil W. Biggs of Teague, Texas; First Lt. William L. Pearce of San Antonio; and Staff Sgt. George G. Herbst of Brooklyn, N.Y.

They were members of the crew of a C-47A Skytrain delivering Polish paratroopers to a drop zone south of Arnhem in support of "Operation Market Garden." The plane crashed soon after departing the drop zone on Sept. 21, 1944. The Germans opened the dikes in the region where the plane crashed and flooded the area before any remains could be recovered, the Defense Department said.

The airmen's remains are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Abendschoen's funeral is scheduled for June 13 at Arlington National Cemetery; Yenner will be buried there July 30, the Defense Department said. - AP