ARM3c Walter Mintus, a VT-51 radioman from WWII found by Project Recover

Beaver County Remembers Walter Mintus, WWII MIA, In Video

Harry Parker MIAs, Repatriations Leave a Comment

Beaver County Remembers Walter “Bert” Mintus in Video The Beaver County Times remembers ARM3c Walter “Bert” Mintus in video.  Mintus was a radioman on a TBM-1c Avenger. His plane crashed in 1944, and Mintus was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Project Recover located the Avenger in 2016.  Mintus took off from the USS San Jacinto on July 27th, 1944. His crew was on a mission to bomb a Japanese base on Malakal, Palau. His aircraft was in the lead position of four Avengers. According to reports, Mintus’ plane was in the lead by 3-5 miles when it was shot down. ARM3c Walter Mintus and his two crew-mates were declared Missing In Action.  The DPAA accounted for the gunner on the aircraft, Otis …

Lt. William Q Punnell

William Punnell, WWII Pilot, Accounted For By DPAA

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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 …