Few Americans realize the deep concern which the Army exercises to determine the exact status of a man reported missing in action, and even fewer are aware of the many complexities that beset the endeavor to track down missing [personnel]… It may be observed, incidentally, that the men reported as ‘missing in action’ has a two-out-of-three chance of being alive, and of turning up eventually. He may be a prisoner of war, and his capture may be subsequently reported. When that happens, of course, his name will be remove from the ‘missing list’. Or, he might be alive and uncaptured… As a matter of fact, if he is a flier, he has a fifty percent chance of of being alive for it has been statistically established that approximately half the crew of a Flying Fortress that crash-lands or is shot down behind enemy lines survive.”
