Eds: APNewsNow. Will be led.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Bernerd Harding, a World War II pilot from New Hampshire who went on a quest this fall to find his buried pilot's wings in Germany 65 years after his B-24 airplane was shot down, has died at age 90.

Harding's wife, Ruth Harding, confirmed he died at his home in Milford on Tuesday. He had prostate cancer.

Harding never found his wings, but on Sept. 25, he was a passenger in the Witchcraft the last B-24 still flying. He sat in the cockpit behind the pilots in a 30-minute flight from Laconia to Manchester.

Harding said he felt that his last war mission his 14th was incomplete without one more landing. September's was "close enough," he said.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-03-09 1253CST | save this article / add to your favorites list