POST COURIER -The United States remains committed to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans lost during the Second World War in Papua New Guinea
With continued support from the governments and people of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, JPAC plans to continue successful operations this year.
Following their successful 2014 recovery and repatriation mission in Papua New Guinea , teams from the US Joint POW/MIA (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action) Accounting Command (JPAC) will return this month to begin investigative missions and potential recovery operations.
These JPAC missions will continue operations in both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands throughout several months.
In 2014, JPAC conducted a successful underwater investigation and recovery mission near Rabaul, East New Britain Province. Search, recovery, and laboratory operations were conducted to identify unaccounted-for Americans.
JPAC was supported by the USNS Safeguard, a ship specifically designed and built for rescue and salvage operations. The remains of more than 8,000 United Sates soldiers are yet to be recovered from World War II battlefields and air crash sites in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Papua New Guinea JPAC 2015 investigative missions will concentrate in Madang Province, while support teams will visit Port Moresby for liaison work with government agencies.
JPAC investigative missions in the Solomon Islands will focus on several locations: Florida, Isabel, South New Georgia, and Vangunu Islands. Additionally, JPAC teams will conduct investigative missions in and around Honiara on Guadalcanal.
– Post Courier