A World War II secret is finally uncovered after 55 years.

In March 1945, seven Navy airmen embarked on a secret- and dangerous- World War II bombing mission. High above the Arctic Circle and overloaded with 3000 pounds of munitions, Bomber 31 departed from an icy runway and then disappeared without a trace for 55 years.

For decades, the trail of the PV-1 aircraft and its crew remained as cold as the Bering Sea. But in 1999, American officials received photos taken on Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula that revealed an American bomber’s mangled parts strewn on a mountainside.

Discover the mystery and heroism behind one of World War II’s most puzzling disappearances- and miraculous discoveries. Trace the bomber’s last minutes through a dramatic recreation and hear from one expert who wonders if the crew might have survived the crash. Hear Navy pilots’ candid recollections about their covert sub-zero missions. And work alongside military forensic archaeologists as they search for remains of the crewmembers for DNA analysis. Then, travel to the remote crash site with the son of one of Bomber 31’s lost crewmen. Join NOVA for the Last Flight of Bomber 31 and see how all the pieces come together in this uncommon story of courage and tragedy.