Although only a year’s time is required by law before the government declares missing persons dead, if the circumstances are such proof of the death is hazy, army and navy officials delay the action as long as possible. Conflicting reports of what happened to LaSurs plane, which was reported to have gone down twenty- five miles off Balikpapan, apparently made the War Department reluctant to take any concluding steps in the matter. Four men were believed to have baled out, but have never been traced.