MIA Missions
Since 1993, Project Recover has been executing missions to search for America’s missing-in-action service members. Read more about our origin story and timeline, here.
Project Recover has developed and scaled a proven model for successfully executing this solemn mission that includes pre-mission research, search missions, site documentation, MIA recovery missions, and repatriation. These missions are conducted in both the underwater environment and on land. With the help of its trusted partners, Project Recover utilizes advanced technology and advanced diving protocols during all aspects of its mission. The process from research to repatriation can often take decades to complete. This is based on the complexity and the sheer volume of missions.
Our organization has executed over 100 missions in more than 24 countries, locating more than 70 MIA sites associated with more than 250 MIAs.
Project Recover Global Mission Map
Learn about
our missions

Chuuk underwater search mission (UDEL)
December 2024
Mission Type
Search/Documentation/EXUTeam Leader
Mark Moline/Colin ColburnLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
UDELSite
Chuuk LagoonConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Body Farm Research (TX)(PR)
November 2024
Mission Type
ResearchTeam Leaders
Pat ScannonLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
University of GeorgiaSite
N/AConflict
N/AInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Germany Reconnaissance mission (PR)
October 2024
Mission Type
Reconnaissance/ResearchTeam Leader
Pat ScannonLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
PR OnlySite
N/AConflict
Rugen, GermanyInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Skyward Bound Education Program (PR)
September 2024
Mission Type
EducationTeam Leaders
Derek AbbeyLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
Travis Manion Foundation/Planes of Fame Museum/Air Force Heritage Flight/PRSite
Santa Maria, CAConflict
N/AInitial Mission and Location
N/AWe hosted three separate sessions with a growing number of local high school students, introducing them to the multidisciplinary work of Project Recover, military and civilian aircraft along with the people responsible for the aircraft on the ground and in the air, and a candid conversation about the character our organization seeks in the valuable members who we select to be a part of our team.
Exposing high school students across America to the many industries and career possibilities associated with our work, introducing them to our military’s pilots and aircraft crews, and introducing them to our mission is very important to Project Recover. Perhaps these students already have a military connection or this might be their first introduction to the U.S. military. Either way we hope that our growing Skyward Bound program might ignite new interests or increase understanding of the importance of individual character traits and how that relates to being a part of a valuable and effective team.

Italy search and documentation (PR)
September 2024
Mission Type
Research/Search/DocumentationTeam Leaders
Michelle Hagstrom/Dave BavencoffLead Archaeologist
Michelle HagstromPartners
Battlefield Archaeology Group/PRSite
San PietroConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Corsica underwater search and documentation
September 2024
Mission Type
Search and DocumentationTeam Leaders
Mark Moline/Matthew BreeceLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
UDEL/Divers with a PurposeSite
N/AConflict
N/AInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Palau underwater recovery (PR/DPAA)
August-September 2024
Mission Type
Underwater RecoveryTeam Leaders
Blake Boteler/Adam GrayLead Archaeologist
Svenja WeisePartners
DPAA/LUS/PRSite
Ocean/USN AvengerConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
Initial mission (2005), Initial location (2014)We conducted a thorough and successful seven-week recovery effort on the site and are currently awaiting any news of additional identifications from the site (which can take 1-2 years).
With seventeen underwater recovery team members and another nine land team members executing the parallel land documentation/search mission, this was the largest Project Recover team deployment yet, testing, with success, our ability to conduct concurrent missions to increase the efficiency and impact of our efforts.

Palau land documentation (PR/DPAA)
August-September 2024
Mission Type
Search/documentationTeam Leaders
Derek Abbey/Hanna FriedlanderLead Archaeologist
Jolie Liston, Ph.D.Partners
DPAA/PRSite
Palau mangrove jungleConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
2007
Vietnam underwater search mission
July 2024
Mission Type
Search/DocumentationTeam Leaders
Eric Terrill/Andrew PietruszkaLead Archaeologist
Andrew PietruszkaPartners
DPAA/SIOSite
N/AConflict
Vietnam/SEAInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Chuuk land recovery (PR)
June 2024
Mission Type
Archaeological ExcavationTeam Leaders
Pat Scannon/Jolie ListonLead Archaeologist
Jolie ListonPartners
PR, UDelSite
Onei Island, ChuukConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Chuuk underwater search mission (UDEL/DPAA)
June 2024
Mission Type
Search/DocumentationTeam Leaders
Mark Moline/Colin Colbourn/Matthew BreeceLead Archaeologist
Dan DavisPartners
DPAA/UDELSite
Chuuk LagoonConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Washington State land survey (PR)
May 2024
Mission Type
Research/SearchTeam Leaders
Derek AbbeyLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
PR onlySite
Washington stateConflict
WWII training lossInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Sweden underwater recovery mission
April 2024
Mission Type
Search/DocumentationTeam Leaders
Eric Terrill/Andrew PietruszkaLead Archaeologist
Andrew PietruszkaPartners
DPAA/SIOSite
N/AConflict
WWIIInitial mission and location
N/A
Africa search mission (UDEL/EU)
January 2024
Mission Type
Search/DocumentationTeam Leaders
Colin Colbourn/Mark MolineLead Archaeologist
Andrew PietruszkaPartners
UDEL/Expedition UnknownSite
San Pedro, Côte d'IvoireConflict
WWIIInitial mission and location
2024
DPAA Chuuk research project (PR/DPAA)
2024 (Year-round)
Mission Type
Research/Case Narrativeslead researcher
Colin ColbournLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
DPAA/PRSite
N/AConflict
WWIIInitial mission and location
N/AThis mission was in partnership with DPAA. While much of the aircraft had been documented over the years, the majority of the fuselage, to include the cockpit, remains missing in the dense jungle.
It might seem odd that so much of the aircraft remains missing. However, the mangrove is so thick and dense, visibility can be limited to a meter and the most modern GPS technology often does not work or only provides accuracy down to a range of dozens of meters. Project Recover planned to sweep the jungle with ten members over a three-week period. The team covered a significant amount of territory on this mission. After the first week in the jungle, the team interviewed a witness who had pointed them to this portion of jungle in the past. This witness learned from his father about the crash site as a youth and had spent a great deal of time in the jungle. His testimony expanded our search area by more than 100 percent.
Despite covering thousands of square meters of mangrove jungle, the team did not locate the cockpit. Several previously unlocated pieces of aircraft were recorded and potential unexploded ordinance was documented, marked, and reported. Project Recover remains committed to documenting the remainder of this crash site and locating the missing Marine associated with the site.

Corsica Search Mission
September 2023
Mission Type
Underwater SearchTeam Leaders
N/ALead Archaeologist
N/APartners
DPAA/UDelSite
N/AConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Skyward Bound Education Program (PR)
September 2023
Mission Type
EducationTeam Leaders
Derek AbbeyLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
Planes of Fame Museum/Air Force Heritage Flight/PRSite
Santa Maria, CAConflict
N/AInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Kwajalein Underwater Recovery Mission
August-September 2023
MISSION TYPE
Underwater RecoveryTeam Leaders
N/ALead Archaeologist
Svenja WeisePartners
DPAA/LUSSite
Ocean/PB2Y-3 CoronadoConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
2007
Palau Underwater Recovery Mission
July 2023
Mission Type
Underwater RecoveryTeam Leaders
Blake Boelter and Derek Abbey, Ph.D.Lead Archaeologist
Svenja Weiss, Ph.D.Partners
DPAA and Legion Undersea ServicesSite
Ocean/USN AvengerConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
2015This mission was in partnership with the DPAA and Legion Undersea Services. Project Recover located and documented the site in 2015 and has since conducted recovery efforts on the site. Two of the crew, Anthony Di Petta and Wilbur Mitts, have been recovered and repatriated back to their families. The pilot of the Avenger remains missing.
Having located and previously conducted recovery operations on this site, the preparation for this mission went relatively smoothly. However, once the team began work on the site, they encountered several challenges which threatened the success of the mission. Equipment needed to be repaired in the field, communications were lost due to a shut down across Palau, weather delays, and multiple members of the team becoming ill. Because of these unavoidable disruptions, Project Recover requested DPAA for an extension to the mission which was not approved. Despite all these challenges, Project Recover and her partners were able to successfully accomplish the mission.
The memorial for Anthony Di Petta took place in New Jersey on July 11th while the team was once again in the field and active on the site from which he was recovered. Since these team members could not join the family in New Jersey, they held a memorial in parallel at the site. This event included statements from multiple team members, as well as the President of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr.. A flag was folded for each of the crew who were lost on this site and the event concluded with a fly over of American F-35s and French Rafales. This division of aircraft replicated the final flight path of the Avenger crew.

Vietnam Search Mission #2
June-July 2023
Mission Type
Underwater SearchTeam Leaders
Eric TerrillLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
DPAA/SIOSite
N/AConflict
VietnamInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Vietnam Search Mission #1
June-July 2023
Mission Type
Underwater SearchTeam Leaders
Eric TerrillLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
DPAA/SIOSite
N/AConflict
VietnamInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Chuuk Search Mission
June-July 2023
Mission Type
Underwater SearchTeam Leaders
Mark Moline/Colin ColbournLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
DPAA/UDelSite
ChuukConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Chuuk Search Mission
April 2023
Mission Type
Underwater and Land SearchTeam Leaders
Mark Moline/Colin ColbournLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
UDel/Expedition UnknownSite
ChuukConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
Palau Mangrove Documentation Mission
March-April 2023
Mission Type
Search/DocumentationTeam Leaders
Derek Abbey, Ph.D. and Dave BavencoffLead Archaeologist
Jolie Liston, Ph.D.Partners
DPAASite
Mangrove jungle/USMC CorsairConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
2007This mission was in partnership with DPAA. While much of the aircraft had been documented over the years, the majority of the fuselage, to include the cockpit, remains missing in the dense jungle.
It might seem odd that so much of the aircraft remains missing. However, the mangrove is so thick and dense, visibility can be limited to a meter and the most modern GPS technology often does not work or only provides accuracy down to a range of dozens of meters. Project Recover planned to sweep the jungle with ten members over a three-week period. The team covered a significant amount of territory on this mission. After the first week in the jungle, the team interviewed a witness who had pointed them to this portion of jungle in the past. This witness learned from his father about the crash site as a youth and had spent a great deal of time in the jungle. His testimony expanded our search area by more than 100 percent.
Despite covering thousands of square meters of mangrove jungle, the team did not locate the cockpit. Several previously unlocated pieces of aircraft were recorded and potential unexploded ordinance was documented, marked, and reported. Project Recover remains committed to documenting the remainder of this crash site and locating the missing Marine associated with the site.

Chuuk Research Mission
2023 (Year-round)
Mission Type
Research/Case NarrativesLEAD RESEARCHER
Colin ColbournLead Archaeologist
N/APartners
DPAA/UDelSite
ChuukConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/A
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