Project Recover Discovery Leads to DPAA Accounting For pilot Lt. William Punnell.
In March 2014, Project Recover located the underwater wreck of an F6F Hellcat associated with MIA WWII pilot Lt. William Punnell. The discovery and relevant documentation were shared with the U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) so that DPAA could initiate the proper procedures for official identification, recovery and repatriation of this missing serviceman.
On June 30, 2017, DPAA announced the pilot Lt. William Punnell, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.”
It has been our team’s privilege to locate the pilot Lt. William Punnell and give honor to his ultimate sacrifice, as well as the consequent sacrifices felt by the Punnell family over the ensuing 73 years.
You can read more about the actual find in the team’s 2014 progress reports. Check out these March 28th and April 1st, 2014, in our PMAN XVI Progress Report. and Mission 16 for pics and the days’ diary.
Read More:
- April 2018 – MIA Lt. William Punnell Located By Project Recover Will Be Buried May 2nd
- May 2018 – Lt. William Punnell, WWII Pilot, Buried At Arlington National Cemetery
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Thanks for reading,
The Team…
Great Job! Keep it up!
Keep up the amazing work. Much respect to BentProp for never forgetting the sacrifices of our heroes and their families. XOXO
This is my great uncle. Thank you for your service and all you do in bringing him home.
William Punnell was my great-uncle. The family was just recently made aware of the positive identification. Needless to say, we are still in a bit of a state of shock. We are deeply thankful to the team and all who were involved in discovering the Hellcat and in bringing Uncle Bill home. We look forward to learning more about the mission in the days to come. Thank you!
Great job guys! I always love it when you find those soldiers and sailors and you bring them home. God Bless you all for what you do and keep up the fantastic work.
Thank you all for your service and dedication to such a wonderful cause.
It is our honor to a help bring these heroes home to family.
Thanks for what you do.
Appreciate the comment. It is our honor.
Even if it is just a single vertebrae, it is symbolic.