About this project
Lost in Palau featured on Life.com: http://www.life.com/gallery/64781/new-works-the-search-for-mias#index/0
We are Dan O’Brien & Jennifer Powers the producers of the documentary film Last Flight Home Searching For and Finding MIA’s. www.LastFlightHome.org
Our film follows a small team of self-funding volunteer adventurers to the far reaches of the Island nation of Palau. 1,000 miles south of Guam the half a dozen or so team members are immersed in the search during month long expeditions. Trekking through jungles, slogging impassible mangroves and scuba-diving in silty croc infested waters.
We have had the privilege of participating in and filming BentProp expeditions and discoveries in the islands of Palau for the last decade, well beyond those aircraft featured in the film.
Now it is time to kickstart the next phase of our adventure so as to put the project in front of more eyes. It has been nothing short of a spectacular adventure crowned by the amazing people we have met along the way -- most specifically the families of the missing.
The US lists 88,000 Americans as Missing In Action from her battles across the globe. 78,000 of those are from the battles of World War II.
The BentProp Project is chiseling away at the number of missing one, three and eleven at a time.
It is our relationship with the families and friends of the missing that is our best and wholly unexpected discovery. These families wait in a torturous suspended animation for answers of any kind. They opened their hearts and shared their stories with us without reservation. It was a complete surprise to us that their unabated wait is passed down to each new generation.
These dramatic photos of searches and wreck-sites deserve the very best of care.
Palau is easily one of the most beautiful places on the planet and that beauty is more than skin deep. The Palauan people have been at the heart of every find the team has made.
So much has happened since the film was completed including resolutions; some might say closure for families of those once missing. The BentProp Project continues their annual expeditions adding year by year to the finds and adventures we didn’t have time to feature in the film.
It is time to write the companion/follow up book “Lost in Palau”
Having been through the funding ringer once, coming out all wet, we were thrilled to hear about Kickstarter.com on NPR. The kickstarter.com all or nothing ethos appeals greatly to us.
Since our spouses say if we self-fund another project we can’t go home and we like going home... We come to you with our project for your generous patronage.
We are producing for Holiday shipping a high caliber coffee table style book as well as a downloadable version with the very best photos from both during the making of the film and in subsequent expeditions. We will follow up on the resolutions for the finds featured in the film & include finds we didn’t have time for in the film, plus what has happened with BentProp’s expeditions since the film. Not to mention the behind the scenes story of making the film.
We are here asking for your support so that we may compile, write, edit, publish and market this companion book in the high quality these photos and their stories deserve. We brought you the story of three major BentProp finds in the film, now as they say, we want to tell you the rest of the story. And there is much to tell!
There is a surprise twist to one of the recoveries that took place 65 years ago…
Also, the recovery efforts on the B-24 site and the ultimate burial at Arlington National Cemetery for another. Still another, the Michigan high school kids preparing their ROV (remote operated vehicle) project for assisting the underwater searches during the March 2012 expedition in Palau.
Have we mentioned the beauty of Palau? Crystalline sapphire waters, mushroom shaped islands popping out of the waters with shocks of lush jungle. The sunsets. The serendipity of it all…
We have some pretty cool things to go with every level of generosity and will be doing frequent updates and additions, check it out!
Thanks for your time & Blue Skies!
Signed Photo Rewards Options for Special Rewards Offer:
FAQ
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BentStar Project is a 501(c)3 Charity formed to document the BentProp Project. The primary result of these efforts is the film Last Flight Home. As the BentStar Project matured we expanded our efforts to include funding BentProp expeditions and our latest effort is to send alpaca socks (three pairs each) to our troops in harms way. These are our ways of saying thank you to our warriors of yesterday and today.
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All proceeds from the book will go to further the goals of the BentStar Project. This includes of course the work to bring home as many MIAs as possible. The BentProp team members have a wish list of tools that will assist them with their searching. Nothing on the list comes cheap.
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Because it is never too late!
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FREE! All shipping on Kickstarter rewards is free!
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We are wanting a high caliber printed in the USA book all on beautiful paper. That means this is a spendy endeavor.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on September 25, 2011.
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A custom postcard mailed from Palau during the next expedition. As the fiscal partner in the project is a 501(c)3 charity corporation all contributions are tax deductible.
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The above PLUS a signed poster from the film Last Flight Home
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All of the above PLUS a downloadable copy of the book
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All of the above PLUS a copy of the film Last Flight Home
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Special Limited addition stand alone reward: One delicious bottle of 2007 Sabina Oakville Cabernet to enjoy with one signed copy of Lost in Palau. This limited addition reward stands entirely on its own. Hurry, only ten available!
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Special limited reward! Choose from one of three frame-able 11"x14" photos signed and ready for framing AND one signed copy of the book. There are only ten of these available. These three photos are on the short list for appearing in the book. One is an idillic shot of one of the small rock islands Palau is famous for, the second is an aerial that sings "come to Palau" and the third is team member Daniel T O'Brien getting the gps coordinates for the monolithic Wild Cat Wing. The photos can be seen here on the kickstarter page and on the Last Flight Home facebook page.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Special limited edition reward: One signed hard copy of Lost in Palau Two pairs of luxurious alpaca socks, yes the same socks we send to troops in harms way. One DVD of Justin Taylan's "The Swamp Ghost" the complete history of the Flying Fortress in a New Guinea swamp including interviews with the former crew and footage of the site prior to salvage. This limited reward stands entirely on its own. Hurry there are only five available!
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All of the above (excluding limited addition rewards) PLUS two signed copies of the book
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This is a special stand alone limited reward of which there are only two available! The reward includes one open edition canvas print by acclaimed aviation artist Troy White. Troy has made a large selection available and the winners of these rewards get to choose one of these beautiful art prints. To see the selections click here: http://www.starduststudios.com/Canvas%20Prints.htm In addition each reward comes with one bottle of 2007 Sabina Oakville Cabernet a signed copy of Lost in Palau AND one copy of The Swamp Ghost dvd by Justin Taylan! Only two available!
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All of the above (excluding limited addition rewards) PLUS specially designed logo hoodie
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This is a stand alone special reward; Retailer's Reward, a package of 20 signed copies of Lost in Palau & 20 copies of the film Last Flight Home. Stock your retail shelves or finish your gift shopping in one fell swoop! Sell as a book/movie gift pack or separately. Your call. And because this is a kickstarter reward shipping is included.
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All of the above PLUS specially designed logo Bomber Jacket
Pledge $8,500 or more Pledge $8,500 or more
All of the above (excluding limited addition rewards) PLUS three BentProp guided days to see aircraft wreck sites in Palau. Does not include airfare or accommodations. Must be SCUBA rated to visit water sites and provide own gear. Your days will be scheduled around the next (or one in the future if you choose) BentProp expedition Spring 2012. Your guide(s) will be one or more BentProp team members. It is advised that your days be slated either at the beginning of an expedition or at the close. We will assist you in planning your incredible Palau adventure and we advise scheduling at least ten days in the islands. Among others you will see the B24 wing that started it all for Dr. Scannon, other potential site visits include; US aircraft: Corsair, Mariner, Avenger and Japanese aircraft: Zero, Betty Bomber, Ginka, Jake (on floats), Additional pending site visits will require permits and authorization from the Palau government and US agencies to ensure these sites stay protected and available for research. This includes the B24 wreckage that held 8 crew members when she went down. This is the crew we had the privilege of honoring at Arlington in April 2010. You will hear first hand accounts of the finds by our beloved team member and master guide Joe as well as your additional BentProp team member guide. These very special days will require the signing of a non-disclosure agreement and a release of liability, other fine print will apply.
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Before combining forces to document the BentProp Project Dan and Jennifer compiled thousands of skydives and dozens of records. With their film Last Flight Home they also founded the charity The BentStar Project LTD that works to fund further MIA searches and sends alpaca socks to troops in harms way.
