San Francisco June 11 (IANS) A man who deserted from the US Air Force in July 1983 has been finally caught in California -- after 35 long years.
William Howard Hughes Jr who had top-secret clearance was last seen withdrawing $28 500 from his bank account at 19 different locations in New Mexico the BBC reported on Monday.
A man claiming to be Barry O Beirne was interviewed earlier this month by officials investigating passport fraud. Pressed on inconsistencies the man admitted his real name was William Hughes.
He claimed he had been depressed about being in the Air Force and so he decided to leave and created a false identity. Hughes had been living in California ever since.

--IANS ksk/mr