July 14, 2017 – The DPAA announced that they have accounted for Navy Reserve Lt. William Q. Punnell, WWII Pilot. In March 2014, Project Recover located the underwater wreck of an F6F Hellcat associated with missing World War II pilot. 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, “Navy Reserve Lt. William Q. Punnell, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.”
It has been the privilege of the entire Project Recover team to locate Lt. Punnell and give honor to his ultimate sacrifice, as well as the consequent sacrifices felt by the Punnell family over the ensuing 73 years.
Thank you for your dedication! I keep waiting to get an email that you have found my Uncle, Douglass A. Smith, shot down over the Med
Appreciate the comment.
Have you contacted DPAA or us with any information on this MIA crew and aircraft?
https://www.projectrecover.org/category/mia/research/
Blue Skies.