Michael McCluskey represents Congressman John Carter in presenting a flag flown over the Capitol to Joe Kirby Smith, nephew of Robert H. Walsleben, MIA 2/5/45. Photo by ChisholmCountry.com / Simone Wichers-Voss.

Dear , 

Thunderstorms roared furiously through the night of May 4th. While the town slept, flooding ensued, rendering Clifton, Texas, an island the following morning. This did not stop Gaye Lynn Seawright and her students from executing a months-long planned memorial event followed by a To What Remains screening fundraiser. 

"There are just too many people that flew and drove long distances to be here today. The students have been working on this all semester, and what we are doing is too important to cancel," said Seawright. Click here to read more.

2024 Supporter Survey Results

We received 138 survey responses to our first-ever Project Recover Supporter Survey. Thank you to those who participated!

We use the information and feedback from our supporters to get to know you better and help tailor our communications. Here are some things I learned, in general, from your responses:

MIA Gold Star family supporters: 25%

Veteran supporters: 35%

Military family supporters: 80%

Non-military related fellow Americans: 20%

There were 36 states represented, along with Australia, Ireland, Malta, and the Philippines!

14 more states for nationwide representation!

If you haven't completed the survey yet and want to add your thoughts - just click here.

Washington State Mission

Over Memorial Day weekend, four Project Recover team members went on an exploratory mission in Washington based on some word-of-mouth information we received that could possibly be related to a WWII training loss. We were already in the area for other events, so we took off into the woods on a rainy Sunday, covering 15 miles of trail to search and survey an area containing a possible crash site. We didn't find anything that day, which is sometimes the case. However, we have plenty of information that will help us to plan our future course of action. Click here to read more.

Derek, Mary Jane, Adrian, and Michelle, still smiles after a long day of hiking and searching in the rain. Photo by Derek Abbey.

Tribute Donations - May 2024 🎖️

~In memory of 2D Lt Edward Burson Tucker. On October 13, 1943, a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40934) with a crew of ten departed Port Moresby, New Guinea, on a combat mission to Rabaul, New Britain. The B-24 was last seen entering a cold weather front forty miles from Kiriwina Island, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. It was not heard from again and did not return to base. The next day, three planes conducted an aerial search for the missing B-24 but found no sign of it. All ten crew members remain missing. From Durden.

~In memory of Pvt. Richard Lee Jones. Thanks to my grandfather for his service, US Army Air Corps, ground crew, England, 1943 to wars' end. From Fred Young.

~In memory of SSgt Jimmie Doyle. On September 1, 1944, the Arnett B24J Liberator '453 (307th Bombardment Group Heavy, 424th Squadron) carrying a crew of 11 was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire in the waters off Palau in the South Pacific. The nose gunner was SSgt Jimmie Doyle, my father. On this Memorial Day, May 27, 2024, we remember and honor my father and the other te members of the crew for their bravery and sacrifice. For decades, the crew's status remained MIA. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of BentProp/Project Recover, the '453 was located in January 2005. On April 25, 2009, my father came home to rest beside my mother.

For all those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and for their families, who too have sacrificed much, we are grateful beyond words.

BRING THEM HOME
NEVER FORGOTTEN

Tommy, Nancy, Brandi and Casey Doyle

~In memory of Flip Colmer. Happy Birthday, my beloved Flip. You valued service, and it permeated your behavior. You warmed a lot of hearts, and for that we are grateful. With love, Rebecca Colmer.

~In memory of my grandfather, COL Ira F. Fravel, USA, 1898 - 1935. In memory of my father, CDR Robert I. F. Fravel, USN, Annapolis 1927. From Maris Fravel.

~In memory of my uncle, Arthur Bloch, a navigator, who was shot down in the Solomons on August 30, 1943. From Lois Wienshienk.

~In memory of ARM3/c Wilbert William Dockter. Thank you for serving honorably. Rest in peace ARM3/c Wilbert W. Dockter, AMM3/c Len Thornton, LT(jg) Lloyd Nicholas. Truk MIA February 17th 1944. TBM BuNO 47821. From Brian Koba.

~In memory of Dean Olmstead, from Daliah Treyve.

~In memory of LT Maxwell Quartner. For my uncle I never had the honor of meeting. After years of searching for closure after he went MIA 11/11/44, Mom passed, and they are finally together. From April Miller.

~In honor of Dave and Roberta Waggoner. Thanks for all you do for veteran causes. I'm making this donation on behalf of my son, Mike Adams. It's his birthday and he holds Project Recover in high regard. From Allen Adams.

~In memory of Robert H. Walsleben, from Heather Willmann.

~In memory of COL Louis Jones, USAF, MIA, November 29th, 1967, from John and Kris Saba

~In memory of James Alward Van Fleet III, from Rebecca McDonald.

~In memory of Bernard Malinowski. For Benny, from Christine Baumgart.

~In memory of James Alward Fleet III, from Linda Watt.

~In memory of my uncle, Captain James A Van Fleet, Jr., and his son, James A Van Fleet, III, who died recently, still hoping for news of his father. From Avery M. Leider.

With Gratitude,

Michelle Abbey

Director of Community & Donor Relations

Project Recover