About Project Recover
Project Recover is a collaborative effort to enlist 21st-century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate Americans missing in action (MIA) since World War II, in order to provide recognition and closure for families and the Nation.
Project Recover began as Dr. Pat Scannon’s vision to bring MIAs home from Palau in 1993. Formerly known as The BentProp Project, the organization has grown from a grassroots effort to a team of dedicated professionals and volunteers using innovative science to bring our MIAs home. Over nearly three decades, the team has located more than 30 US World War II aircraft associated with more than 100 MIAs in missions around the globe.
In 2012, Project Recover was informally founded as a collaborative partnership between Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, and University of Delaware. In 2016, the partnership was formalized. In 2018, The BentProp Project officially changed its name to Project Recover. The organization works in close partnership with Scripps and UDel.
Fast Facts:
Based on Project Recover's Work
60+
Completed Missions
20+
Countries & Territories
50+
Aircraft Located
170+
Associated MIAs
3000+
MIAs associated with on going investigations.
14
Repatriated MIAs
80+
Awaiting MIA Recovery Missions
500+
Aircraft in growing database
Board of Directors



Dan Friedkin
Chair



Derek Abbey, Ph.D.
President / CEO



Pat Scannon, M.D. Ph.D. President Emeritus



Daniel T. O'Brien
Treasurer / Admin



Val Thal-Slocum
Secretary



Flip Colmer
In Memoriam, Team Innovator
Specialists
Lead Historian
Dr. Colin Colbourn is Project Recover’s Lead Historian and a Postdoctoral Researcher with the University of Delaware. Since 2016, he has managed historical operations including archival research, data management, case analysis, and field investigations. Through these efforts, Project Recover has developed a massive internal archive comprised of thousands of historical reports, maps, and images. Learn more about Colin and his work with MIA Families
Lead Archaeologist
Advisory Council



Darcy Anderson
Vice Chairman, Hillwood Management



Matt Byrd
Colonel,USAF (ret.), President and CEO, Hillwood Aviation



T.M. Moseley
General, USAF (ret.) Former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force



Tom Henricks
Colonel, USAF (ret.) and former US Astronaut



Amanda Hughes
Director, The Friedkin Foundation



Eric Williamson
President, Friedkin Aviation
Vice President, The Friedkin Business Development Group
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