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

Palau research and documentation mission
march 2025
Mission Type
Research/DocumentationTeam Leader
Derek Abbey/Pat ScannonLead Archaeologist
Svenja WeisePartners
UGASite
PalauConflict
WWIIInitial Mission and Location
N/AProject Recover just completed its first 2025 mission to Palau. This mission had two goals:
(1) An underwater investigation and survey of an MIA-associated F4U Corsair crash site in Malakal Harbor for a possible later recovery operation and
(2) Terrestrial evaluation of the possible role of environmental DNA (eDNA) and other technologies in a jungle setting as aids in locating unmarked MIA-related grave sites of interest.
The Project Recover team consisted of:
- Derek Abbey, PhD, and Team Leader
- Patrick Scannon, MD, PhD Co-Team Leader (Terrestrial)
- Svenja Weise, PhD, Lead Underwater Archaeologist
- Jolie Liston, PhD, Lead Terrestrial Archaeologist
- Nick Zaborski, Lead Recovery Leader (Legion Underseas Services)
- Brock Stevens, US Navy Diver and Photographer (first field mission)
- Josh Evens, Terrestrial and Technical Support (first field Mission)
- Austin Adam, Guest, Underwater and Terrestrial Support
Prior to arrival, Jolie Liston kindly advanced the necessary permitting processes at the State and National levels, also gaining landowner permission as appropriate.
1. The Underwater Investigation and Survey of an MIA-associated F4U Corsair:
In 1945, a Marine fighter pilot was shot down during a bombing mission in the vicinity of Malakal Harbor, an area heavily defended by Japanese antiaircraft units. A Project Recover team (BentProp) originally located the site in 2003 (see PMAN-V and P-MAN VI Reports) and was preliminarily investigated by DPAA (then JPAC) in 2004 without success in locating human remains.
However, based on improved methodologies over the past twenty years, Project Recover recently reviewed and decided to reinvestigate the site. The crash site debris field is relatively compact, covering an area of approximately 30mx40m. Much, but not all, of this Corsair debris can be readily accounted for on the harbor surface. Because the crash site is located at depths between 30-50 feet, a specific question was whether some of the unaccounted-for aircraft debris, e.g., the cockpit area, might have embedded deeper into the sea floor than initially thought.
Our survey team spent four days on-site. The first day was used to acquaint the team with the site as it exists today, comparing the current debris field with the originally filed P-MAN-V/VI and JPAC findings (DPAA kindly supplied a copy of the JPAC report). The initial assessment was that the debris field is basically unchanged, even after more than twenty years.
Over the next three days, the underwater team created a detailed map of surface debris, with particular attention to zones that might have a greater probability for locating human remains. Although no human remains were located on the surface (none were expected), it does appear from close surface inspection that certain areas appear to have debris embedded deeper than observed in 2003/4. Also, some of these zones are likely areas of interest for excavation, should the go-ahead for recovery occur. The archaeology assessment and conclusions are due later this month.
2. Terrestrial Evaluation of the Role of Environmental DNA (eDNA) and Other Technologies as Aids in Locating Unmarked MIA-related Grave Sites:
Although great technological progress has been made for underwater searches, terrestrial searches, by and large, still depend on human teams walking areas of interest using their eyes and legs. This can work when looking for aviation crash sites, for example. Still, increasingly, Project Recover is finding, in both the Pacific and European theaters, suspected MIA-related unmarked graves separate from any wartime structures. These sites are typically, but not always, human-sized depressions in the ground and may have one of several explanations: e.g., an empty or debris-containing pit without human remains, a previously excavated grave, or an active grave site. In addition, we are locating areas of interest, but do not know precisely where the grave might be located within that area.
Finding these areas of interest raises issues concerning what to do next. Host countries have a variety of cultures and bureaucracies that, depending on many variables, do not permit immediate digging of test trenches or excavations. If permission is to be granted at all, supportive evidence is essential.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a technology for analyzing soil, water, or other environmental sources to look for the presence of source DNA of interest, e.g., bacterial, fungal, plant, mammalian, and more specifically, human. DNA and its fragments can be very stable, lasting millions of years. A disadvantage of this technology to date has been that it is intensively laboratory-based, requiring field teams, particularly interested in locating human remains, to collect soil or other samples, prepare them for shipping with appropriate USDA permits, and typically wait 3-4 months for results. This usually requires the team to return home and return to the field for additional collections if the results are inconclusive.
Another technology of interest is using unmanned aerial vehicles with differing sensors, such as multispectral imaging, thermal imaging, and LIDAR. A limitation here is that flying such drones under the canopy has had limited success because of the potential for drone collisions.
Project Recover is assessing these and other technologies to extend terrestrial searches beyond “boots-on-the-ground”. We decided to take two archaeologists into the jungle in Ngatpang state to a possible MIA-related site to assess how we might use new technologies in this austere setting. We discussed aspects such as logistics, setting up equipment, limitations of weather, collection steps (for eDNA), and other potential issues. The conclusion was that some of the more recent advances in eDNA technology and unmanned aerial systems will permit collecting and processing samples, which might accelerate time-to-recovery operations. As a result of this field mission, Project Recover plans to begin implementing these new technologies in coordination with scientists from the University of Georgia in the near future.
This was a short but very successful mission. The Project Recover team was able to survey the underwater crash site and complete our technical feasibility studies. The underwater crash site analysis is ongoing.

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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