IT OUT. >>> OUR OTHER "TOP STORY" TONIGHT. FOR MORE THAN 54 YEARS, A BAY AREA WOMAN HAS WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED TO HER HUSBAND. A U.S. AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT WHO WENT MISSING IN ACTION DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. NOW AT AGE 90, THE BURLINGAME WOMAN AND HER FAMILY NOW HAVE ANSWERS. MARIANNE FAVRO HAS THEIR EMOTIONAL STORY. >> Reporter: THEY WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS AT BALBOA HIGH BEFORE TYING THE KNOT. >> HE MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE. THAT WAS ONE THING. AND HE WAS REALLY SWEET AND REALLY, REALLY SMART. >> Reporter: JOYCE AND ERNIE DESOTO, AN AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT HAD THREE KIDS AND MARRIED 12 YEARS BEFORE THE FAMILY RECEIVED DEVASTATING NEWS. ERNIE DESOTO WAS RECORD MISSING IN ACTION DURING A MISSION IN VIETNAM. HIS SON CRAIG WAS JUST 8. >> I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT SOMEONE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, TOLD US, YOU KNOW, DAD, YOU KNOW, HE BECAME MISSING. >> Reporter: FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, JOYCE SAID SHE WONDERED IF HER HUSBAND WAS ALIVE, CAPTURED OR BEING TORTURED. SHE JOINED FORCES WITH WOMEN IN THE SAME SITUATION, PRESSING THE GOVERNMENT FOR ANSWERS. >> WE WOULD MEET SECRETLY, BECAUSE WE TOLD, BE QUIET, NOT TO SAY ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE WAR WAS NOT POPULAR. >> Reporter: DECADES LATER IN 2021 A U.S. RECOVERY AGENCY, WORKING WITH A TEAM IN VIETNAM SEARCHED THE REMOTE SITE WHERE DESOTO'S PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN AND DISCOVERED THIS BONE. MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, SCIENTISTS, USING MY TOE CONDREEIAL DNA CONFIRMED THAT THE BONE BELONGED TO DESOTO. THEY ALSO RECOVER ADD ZIPPER FROM HIS FLIGHT SUIT. >> IT'S CLOSURE. HE DIDN'T SUFFER. HE WAS ACTUALLY KILLED IN THE AIRPLANE, WHICH I'D NEVER KNOWN. >> Reporter: DESOTO'S DAUGHTER DENISE SAYS THE IDENTIFICATION GIVES HER PEACE OF MIND. >> MEANS A LOT. MEANS A LOT. JUST TO PUT HIM TO REST AND SO THAT WE CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT HIM NOT BEING TORTURED OR ANY OF THAT AWFULNESS. >> Reporter: JOYCE ADMITS SHE'S STILL STUNNED, MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY LATER SHE CAN FINALLY CLOSE ONE PAINFUL CHAPTER. >> IT'S BITTERSWEET, BECAUSE YOU HELD HIM ALIVE FOR A LONG TIME. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY IS NOW PLANNING A FUNERAL ON FRIDAY HERE IN SAN BRUNO. IT WILL INCLUDE A MILITARY
