Over 80,000 American service members are still listed as missing in action from past conflicts – a staggering number representing lives lost and families left with unanswered questions. But a beacon of hope exists, fueled by relentless dedication and cutting-edge technology. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency believes the remains of nearly 38,000 of these heroes may be recoverable.
Project Recover, a non-profit organization, is at the forefront of this deeply moving mission. They aren’t simply searching; they’re embarking on complex underwater expeditions, meticulously piecing together the stories of those who vanished. Former Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet describes it as “a great American story,” one driven by technology – underwater drones, specialized diving gear – and an unwavering commitment to bring these service members home.
The organization’s origins trace back to 1993, when Dr. Patrick Scannon stumbled upon a downed World War II aircraft while visiting the Palau Islands. A single 65-foot wing, he recalls, irrevocably altered his life’s course. That discovery sparked a passion that would grow into a global effort to locate and identify the missing.
Today, Project Recover teams have pinpointed dozens of aircraft sites around the Palau Islands, linked to nearly 100 missing service members. The process is arduous. First, the aircraft or ship must be found. Then, a painstaking determination must be made if remains are present, followed by the complex task of identification and matching them to the missing.
The Palau Islands hold a particularly poignant history. In 1944, they were deemed vital to the liberation of the Philippines. The battle for Peleliu, however, proved brutally costly. Despite initial expectations of a swift victory, fighting raged for 74 days. Over 1,800 Americans perished, and more than 8,000 were wounded or went missing, facing a determined enemy entrenched in coral caves and mine shafts.
Across the Palau Islands, nearly 200 U.S. aircraft were lost during nine major air campaigns. Now, Project Recover is working to resolve the fates of those who fell. One success story involves a plane carrying Lieutenant Jay Manown and two crew members, lost during pre-invasion strikes in September 1944.
After years of searching, the team recovered the remains of all three men, a process that required forensic analysis and DNA technology. Suzanne Nakamura, the niece of Anthony Di Petta, remembers learning her uncle’s plane “was hit by enemy fire and it burst into flames.” The discovery, and eventual identification, brought a measure of peace to families who had lived with uncertainty for decades.
A ceremony held in West Virginia, Lt. Manown’s hometown, brought together relatives of all three service members. Rebecca Sheets, Manown’s niece, described the experience as forging “almost a sisterhood” among the families. Diana Ward, Mitts’ niece, echoed the sentiment, expressing the joy of finally bringing their uncles home.
The women also shared a profound connection, contemplating the emotions their grandmothers – the mothers of Manown, Di Petta, and Mitts – must have experienced. “We have a connection because our uncles were involved in not only defending the freedom of the United States, but as human beings who fought together and died together,” Nakamura explained.
To date, Project Recover has completed over 100 missions in 25 countries, repatriating the remains of 24 missing Americans and locating over 200 more awaiting recovery. Their current focus is a mission planned for 2026: the search for a B-52 aircraft lost during a training accident off the coast of Texas.
Eight service members were aboard the B-52 when it disappeared in February 1968. While the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency cannot allocate funds for recovery due to the non-conflict nature of the accident, Project Recover is determined to locate the wreckage and provide answers to the families. Approximately 32 family members are still alive, yearning for closure.
Despite the challenges, over $300,000 has already been raised, with an additional $200,000 needed to fund the search. Locating the B-52 would pave the way for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to allocate resources for a full recovery effort, offering a final, respectful homecoming for these eight airmen.
The search isn’t just about finding wreckage; it’s about honoring sacrifice, providing solace to grieving families, and ensuring that no service member is ever truly forgotten. It’s a testament to the enduring power of hope and the unwavering commitment to bring our heroes home.
