In a significant development, federal authorities have officially recognized the remains of a U.S. Air Force pilot from Wisconsin, who had been missing for almost six decades following the Vietnam War.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency revealed on Tuesday that their experts successfully identified the remains of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald W. Downing, hailing from Columbus, in December.

Lt. Col. Downing was operating an F-4C Phantom II aircraft during a nighttime reconnaissance mission over what was then known as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1967 when he lost contact. During the mission, another aircraft in the same formation reported seeing a fireball in the sky, while Downing’s aircraft failed to respond to any further radio communications, as recorded by the accounting agency.

Despite extensive search and rescue operations, no trace of Downing was found for several years, leading to his designation as killed in action in April 1978. At the time of his disappearance, Downing held the rank of captain, but he was later promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in honor of his service.

After decades of ongoing investigations, a recovery team made a breakthrough in May and June 2024 when they discovered life support equipment, remnants of the aircraft, and bone fragments at a location in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam.

Utilizing DNA analysis and additional evidence, the agency’s scientists confirmed the identity of Lt. Col. Downing. Plans for his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery are currently underway but have not been scheduled yet.