Wreckage of 72-year-old World War II aircraft found in Pacific Islands by Project RECOVER team.
Project RECOVER: Uncovering History and Providing Closure
Project RECOVER, a unique public-private partnership, is on a mission to locate and repatriate the remains of American servicemen missing in action (MIA) since World War II. This endeavour, which combines deep archival research with advanced underwater archaeological methods and modern technologies, is making significant strides in honouring the missing and providing closure for families.
A Three-Decade Journey
Project RECOVER has been active for approximately three decades, with its initial focus on World War II sites such as the Chuuk Lagoon, the main Japanese naval base targeted by U.S. forces in 1944. Since 2018, the project has identified over 80 U.S. planes, primarily from World War II, and helped bring home the remains of more than 30 servicemen.
The Power of Collaboration
The project involves scientific fieldwork, partnerships with local communities, and the engagement of students and volunteers. It also collaborates with organizations like the University of Delaware, Scripps Oceanography, and the BentProp Project. The University of California San Diego, one of the top 15 research universities worldwide, is a key player in this collaboration.
Recent Discoveries and Ongoing Efforts
In July 2025, Project RECOVER opened a new office in Bend, Oregon, enhancing its ability to organize research and facilitate family involvement in investigations. The organization continues its mission with ongoing fieldwork, research, and collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense to verify findings and repatriate remains.
A recent discovery made by Project RECOVER is a TBM-1C Avenger, an American aircraft missing since July 1944, in the waters surrounding the Pacific Island nation of Palau. Scattered around Palau's island chain are several dozen U.S. aircraft and the remains of as many as 80 U.S. airmen.
Financial Support and Leadership
Dan Friedkin, the chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the founder and chairman of the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation, and the head of Gulf States Toyota, is a member of the Project RECOVER team and has provided substantial financial support. His continued support is helping sustain ongoing missions and enable the organization to innovate its technology and expand its search efforts.
Friedkin's involvement extends beyond financial support. He also oversees the Friedkin Conservation Fund, a charitable organization established by the family working to conserve the habitat and wildlife on more than seven million acres in Tanzania.
Looking Forward
Project RECOVER's mission is to find the final underwater resting places of all Americans missing in action since World War II. The organization emphasizes the importance of resolving ambiguous loss for families, enabling grieving and memorialization with answers about their loved ones. Project RECOVER encourages families of MIAs to contact them through their website for assistance or to contribute information that might help ongoing searches.
This effort represents a significant long-term public-private partnership involving government, nonprofit, scientific, and veteran community collaboration dedicated to historical recovery and humanitarian closure.
- The financial support from Dan Friedkin, who is a member of Project RECOVER, has been crucial in sustaining ongoing missions and allowing the organization to innovate its technology and expand its search efforts in oceanographic research.
- In addition to the collaborative efforts with various organizations, the transportation and aviation industry come into play as Project RECOVER seeks to locate and repatriate the remains of American servicemen, with recent discoveries like a TBM-1C Avenger being found in the waters surrounding the Pacific Island nation of Palau.
