Remains of a World War II aircraft that mysteriously disappeared 72 years ago discovered in the Pacific Islands by Project RECOVER.
In a significant discovery, Project Recover, a nonprofit organisation that has been searching for American MIAs for over two decades, has located a U.S. Navy TBM-1C Avenger aircraft missing since July 1944 in the waters surrounding Palau.
Founded in 2015 as a research collaboration, Project Recover's mission is to find the final underwater resting places of all Americans missing in action since World War II. The organisation, which co-founder Dr. Mark Moline of the University of Delaware, Eric Terrill from the University of California San Diego, and the BentProp Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, works closely with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to identify underwater crash sites and recover remains where possible.
The TBM-1C Avenger aircraft, which was part of a squadron that provided air support during the Battle of Peleliu, was discovered using advanced oceanographic technology such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and upgraded sonar systems. Project Recover has been applying modern tools like AUVs (like the Bipolar, developed and upgraded at the University of Delaware) on expeditions to sites such as the Marshall Islands and New Guinea.
Notable achievements of Project Recover include the discovery of the B-24 Liberator bomber "Heaven Can Wait" that crashed in 1944 near New Guinea in 2017, enabling families and authorities to better understand the fate of the 11 missing airmen on that mission.
Dan Friedkin, founder and chairman of Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation and chairman of Gulf States Toyota and The Friedkin Group, is a member of the Project RECOVER team. Mr. Friedkin's continued support is helping sustain ongoing missions and enabling the organisation to innovate its technology and expand its search and discovery efforts.
Scattered around Palau's island chain are several dozen U.S. aircraft and the remains of as many as 80 U.S. airmen. Project Recover provides detailed information about discovered wrecks and possible links to airmen listed as missing in action to the DPAA.
The discovery in Palau adds to the growing list of wrecks discovered by Project RECOVER, which is a collaborative effort to locate aircraft and associated Americans missing in action since World War II. The organisation's work not only contributes to official accounting and closure for families of missing service members but also sheds light on the history of World War II.
The Friedkin Group, chaired by Mr. Friedkin, is a consortium of automotive, adventure, hospitality, and entertainment companies. The University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) aims to reach a deeper understanding of the planet and improve stewardship of environmental resources. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, where Mr. Friedkin is the chairman, works to conserve and manage the natural and cultural resources of Texas. The Friedkins have contributed over $100 million to support wildlife conservation and anti-poaching efforts in East Africa.
In summary, Project Recover's discovery of the TBM-1C Avenger aircraft in Palau is a testament to the organisation's commitment to finding and identifying missing World War II aircraft and airmen. The organisation's work not only contributes to official accounting and closure for families of missing service members but also sheds light on the history of World War II.
The oceanographic research conducted by Project Recover, with the aid of industry partners like Dan Friedkin's firms and the university collaborations, has led to the discovery of the TBM-1C Avenger aircraft – a significant find that sheds light on World War II history. This ongoing industry-finance collaboration for transportation technology is instrumental in expanding Project Recover's aviation sector search and discovery efforts.
