U.S. officials say they will visit World War II crash sites in India this year to plan recovery missions that could include an Altoona soldier’s remains.

Sheldon Chambers was 37 years old when the B-24J Liberator he co-piloted crashed in 1944 during a mission from Kunming, China, to Chabua, India. The actual fate of the eight crew members was unknown until 2006, when an Arizona man discovered the wreckage on a private expedition.

The crews’ families since have campaigned for the U.S. government to recover possible remains at the site.

Recovery seemed years away as Department of Defense officials said the wreckage is in unstable territory and the U.S. lacks the support of the Indian government.

A meeting in India this week indicates that the Indian government is ready to assist the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC).