Lost US Air Force Dog Tag Unearthed in Kexby Garden After 70 Years

The family of the late US Air Force veteran, Daniel Rapue, has voiced their appreciation after his military ID tag was found in a garden in Kexby, Lincolnshire, seven decades after it went missing. Rapue, who served at RAF Sturgate near Gainsborough during the 1950s and passed away in 2001, lost the tag which was later discovered under 8cm of earth by local detectorist Adam Dreikluft, who had been granted permission to explore the property.

The unexpected finding led to the location of Rapue’s next of kin in Colorado, USA. Dreikluft voiced his elation about unearthing this significant piece of the past and its connection to Rapue’s family. History enthusiast, Anna Draper, who aided in locating the deceased’s family said she was ecstatic to have facilitated this connection. The late Rapue’s daughter, Cathy Mosbarger, conveyed her deep gratitude, considering the rediscovery of the tag as a symbol from her late father.

This article was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.