The BentProp Project team, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Delaware, Coral Reef Research Foundation and guests, on March 28, 2015, held a flag holding ceremony to honor the missing crew of the United States Navy Curtiss SB2C Helldiver aircraft found in Palau’s waters.
The aircraft was discovered by the team at the beginning of their 2015 expedition.
Documenting their daily operation, Flip Colmer writes on the non-profit organization’s website describing the day as “a solemn, and joyous day.” “Solemn in that we held a flag ceremony in honor of the missing crew of the Helldiver we found. Joyous in that it commemorates the start of their journey home”, he explains.
Following the discovery of this World War II aircraft that has been missing for 70 years, the team will turn over information from the investigation and discovery to the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency formerly known as JPAC. This does not mean the agency would immediately send out a team to recover the two missing American soldiers. But Colmer says if they (the agency) will ultimately decide to commit resources, will conduct an actual recovery effort for the crew.
With the discovery of the helldiver, the team continues to search for other missing aircrafts in hopes to locate and repatriate American soldiers listed as missing in action (MIA).
The expedition is scheduled from March 13 to April 15, 2015.
