FROZEN AIRMAN: RELATIONSHIP TO CERTAIN FAMILIES ...

... has been ruled out.

Experts have been able to read a name on a faded badge on the body of a World War Two airman found encased in ice on a California mountain.

But they won't reveal the name until they confirm the identity through DNA, which could take anywhere from weeks to months.

The well-preserved body's discovery has given hope to four families whose loved ones disappeared during a training flight in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains way back on November 18th, 1942.

The body apparently isn't that of John Mortenson, because his badge was found by ice climbers five years after the accident. And Ernest Munn's sister got a call from military officials earlier this month telling her they didn't think it was her brother.

That ... narrows it down to William Gamber, who was 23 at the time, and Leo Mustonen, who was 22. Gamber's sister, who's now 92, says it would be "truly amazing" to be able to give her brother a proper burial after all this time.

Some things just can't be hurried, but for the sake of the families I'd like to see this one speed up some ... no reason to put them through a second hell.

PREVIOUS CRIB POSTS ON THE AIRMAN: here, here, and here

Frozen airman; MIA; Military; WWII