On the night of March 14, 1951, U.S. Air Force Capt. Julius C. Fluhr Jr.’s F-82G Twin Mustang disappeared over the battlefields of Korea. At around 3:15 a.m., he last reported to another F-82 that he was between the cities of Taegu and Seoul, on his way to his target. Fluhr’s aircraft never returned from his mission. Subsequent searches for his F-82G proved fruitless. Later in the war, returning POWs reported no contact with him. No wreckage or remains were ever found, but he was not forgotten.
On March 28, 2025, the U.S. Air Force conducted a memorial service for Fluhr in Section 37 of Arlington National Cemetery, attended by six of Flur’s relatives. U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Victoria Reeves spoke about how he grew up with three brothers in Carthage, New Jersey, and how he met and married “the love of his life,” Elenore Langford, in the summer of 1942. Their only son, Paul, was born before Fluhr was drafted to fight in World War II. He returned home in 1946 but was called back into service in November 1950 to fight in the Korean War. Four months later, he disappeared.
“This once happy and joyful family grieved their beloved son, husband, father, uncle, brother and friend,” Reeves said. She added that tragedy struck the family again when Fluhr’s brother Bob flew a reconnaissance mission looking for him, only to be killed in action.
Peter Mactaggart, Fluhr’s nephew, accepted the tri-folded American flag from Air Force Brig. Gen. Brian S. Hartless. After the service, he talked about his uncle. “I was six years old the last time I saw him,” he recalled. “I remembered him and his younger brother making model airplanes.” The service brought Mactaggart’s search for his uncle to an end. “I just searched and searched and searched for many years,” he said. “I just needed closure, and this is where he belongs.”
During Chaplain Reeves’ eulogy, she explained the importance of Fluhr’s service. “Capt. Fluhr may be gone, but he's not forgotten and will never be forgotten,” she said. “We honor not just his service and sacrifice, but also the man he was, a man of bravery and honor.”
