The U.S. Ambassador to Thailand joined the search for an American pilot whose plane was shot down in northern Thailand during World War II.

Robert F. Godec, along with local officials and officers from the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, searched in Lampang province on February 15.

The mission is part of ongoing efforts to recover the remains of missing U.S. soldiers believed to have died in Thailand during the Second World War, when the country allowed the Japanese Nazi Axis to build its notorious Death Railway.

Among the war planes found was a P-51 fighter jet said to have been shot down in Lampang during a skirmish between Thai and American pilots on February 11, 1944.

Ambassador Godec said: 'DODPAA is dedicated to providing the fullest possible accounting for American missing personnel to their families & our nation.

'It was a privilege to join DPAA personnel who are working alongside Thai Park Rangers & Lampang community members to search for a US pilot who went missing in action during World War II.

'We remember the sacrifice of this US pilot, and all American & Thai service members who gave their lives in service of our nations.

'We are committed to leaving no one behind.

'On behalf of the US Mission, I thank everyone who is involved in this very important effort.'

He added that Thailand is the first country in Asia that was an ally of the U.S. and cooperated fully in the search. Thailand later distanced itself from the U.S. in the 1970S and moved closer to China - a relationship that continues to this day.

Meanwhile, retired Air Chief Marshal Sakpinit Promthep of the Thai Air Force said the recovery operations were an important international agenda of the American Embassy, stressing the significance of the search for missing pilots so their bodies can be properly repatriated to their homeland.

Lisa Buzenas, U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai, said the DODPAA was conducting searches and identifying missing American soldiers from World War II and the Vietnam War who were shot down in planes over Thailand.

She noted that this year's search was the second largest in scope in Thailand in the past five years, with the first search in 2022 also taking place in Lampang.

Bone fragments from five more soldiers have been recovered, but their identities could not yet be confirmed.

Lisa said the search and excavation operations are based on thorough research of American and Japanese war records, as well as information from the locals.

Once a search area has been determined, the DODPAA team travel from Hawaii to begin combing through the site.