PITTSBURGH, Pa. — After 69 years, a West Virginia World War ll airman killed in action is finally taking his final flight home.
“Jerome Kiger will return to American soil on Thursday, July 18,” said Kiger’s niece, Donna Renner. 
Sgt. Jerome Kiger, a Mannington native, served his as a tail gunner on a B-14 Liberator bomber in World War II. His plane was shot down over Germany on July 21, 1944.
For more than a half-century, Renner and the rest of Kiger’s family have been left wondering where his remains were. That is until one faithful day, when the family received a phone call.
“A German citizen contacted my family and said he had reason to believe that he had found the crash site,” Renner said.
The caller, Markus Mooser, sent a box of metal pieces believed to be remnants from the B-14 bomber. About two years ago, Mooser and officials with the Army excavated the crash site and found remains.
Soon after the discovery, Renner’s aunt in Pittsburgh submitted her DNA to a German lab that matched it to the remains. Now Kiger is finally coming home.
“Our family has been blessed,” said Renner. “It’s still hard to imagine.”
Kiger’s remains will arrive at Pittsburgh International Airport on Thursday, where plane-side military services will be held.
Then on Sunday, Kiger will be presented with full military honors through military ceremonies at the Hudson Funeral Home in Mannington beginning at 1:30 p.m. Then comes a procession of family, friends, veterans and service members from across the country who will escort Kiger’s remains to Mannington Memorial Park.
Kiger will be buried in a grave site between Renner’s grandparents, who had prepared for Jerome’s eventual return.
Renner said one of the greatest things they will experience during this time is that the man who made the discovery, Markus Mooser, will be present during the services.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin ordered all state flags lowered to half staff on Sunday in honor of Kiger, who was among the estimated 88,000 military members still missing in action.