Reading the linked article below, it appears the bomber was a ball of flames before impacting the ground. At the time only one body of the three were found. Sgt Crowther was recovered at the time but nothing was ever found of his two American colleagues, apart from an identity bracelet belonging to Montgomery. The other two crew members we were considered missing in action “MIA”.

Just a absolute guess, the intense fire and impact destroyed most of any remains.

It wasn’t until a local aviation archaeology group attempted to excavate the crash site in 1974 after historian Andy Saunders located the most likely area of the crash.

However, it wasn’t until 2019 the site was throughly checked for the remains of Lt Montgomery and Sgt John Holoka.

After multiple excavations, finally the remains of Lt. Montgomery were found. It took years to confirm his identity. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/mystery-of-lost-ww2-pilot-solved-after-remains-identified-79-years-after-crash/amp

God bless her. Your last sentence “The pain of WW2 is still fresh for some old people.” As the winds of war and saber rattling become more pronounced, we should listen much closer to those who lived it like your mum. History does repeat itself if we decide not learn from the past.

Today Ukrainians are fighting for their life and freedom. It wasn’t that long ago Americans we’re doing the same in Europe.

During WW2 over 26,000 airmen died while with serving in the European theater of the 8th Air Force (47,000 casualties).

When I was 24 I was lucky to not fall off a bar stool. Lt. Montgomery and his crew was bombing Germany. Much respect, I couldn’t hold his jock strap.

Hope his extended family finds closure.

Below is from the article.

“Lt. William B. Montgomery, a 24-year-old from Ford City, Pennsylvania, died in the summer of 1944.”

“Montgomery's remains were among those eventually found during a DPAA investigation conducted in 2021”

“Montgomery was killed on June 22, 1944, when the aircraft he was piloting a B-24H Liberator bomber, carrying 10 crew members including himself. It went down near the coast of the United Kingdom. At the time, he was assigned to a bomb squadron within the Army's Eighth Air Force.”

“Montgomery's crew was struck by anti-aircraft that damaged the plane. But the lieutenant was still able to fly the aircraft until it reached the U.K., a feat that officials say was possible because of Montgomery's "piloting skill." He then ordered the crew to exit the plane before it crashed into a farm in West Sussex, England.”

“Seven of the airmen parachuted successfully while the other three crew members, including Montgomery, were still on board. Two of the crew witnessed the aircraft crashed into a farm in West Sussex, England."

Trust me, this will not be the most embarrassing sentence you’ll speak during your relationship or life. Don’t worry about it, she’s not. Hell, laugh at it, move on building your relationship.