US government funds dig on Yorkshire moor to find American airman missing since his 1944 bomber crash

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

Cpl Clarence Watson, 22, was one of nine US airmen killed when their B-24H bomber struck Twizle Head Moor near Holmfirth during a routine test flight on 9 October 1944 — exactly 82 years ago today. His remains were never recovered while those of his eight crewmates were, and forensic archaeologists Geoscope are now five weeks into an excavation funded by the US government to find him. The team says it is 'following the breadcrumbs' through wreckage spread across a wide area after the aircraft broke up and came to rest in flames.

Watson and another crewman were ground crew serving only as passengers when the pilot misjudged the rising moorland in poor visibility.