U.S. Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 and civilian members from the USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51) began operations Sept. 23, in support of a Defense Personnel Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission off the coast of Montalto di Castro, Italy.

The DPAA mission is designed to recover the remains of U.S Airmen who have been MIA since their B-24 bomber aircraft were shot down by enemy aircraft  March 3, 1944.

U.S. Army Capt. Troy Davidson, DPAA Underwater Recovery Team Leader stated, “DPAA strives to give our POW/MIA families what solace and answers we can by providing information about their loved ones’ service and ultimately their sacrifice, and we are determined to do whatever we can to bring these unaccounted-for Americans home.”