Gertrude Vreeland Tompkins Silver
Missing since October 26, 1944 from Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California.
Classification: Endangered Missing
Vital Statistics
Age at Time of Disappearance: 32 years old
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; brown eyes.
Circumstances of Disappearance
Gertrude Tompkins Silver, was one of 1,074 Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS) in World War II and the only WASP who disappeared without a trace. She had over 850 hours of flying time, 46 hours of those were in the P-51, and 17 of those were in the D model she was flying at the time of her disappearance.
She was 32 and a bride of just one month when her warplane disappeared during World War II after takeoff from what is now Los Angeles International Airport. Because of a misplaced flight plan, Gertrude Tompkins Silver of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) and the new P-51D Mustang she was ferrying in 1944 weren't even missed for three days.
A search, including the scanning of Santa Monica Bay by military boat with new husband Henry Silver on board, failed to turn up any trace of the young pilot or the newly built single-seat pursuit plane she was to fly across the country for shipment overseas. Months and years passed without any trace of the plane's wreckage in the deserts or mountains along the flier's route to Tucson, the first leg of her assigned journey.
So far, efforts to locate her or her aircraft have yielded no conclusive results.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Pat Macha
714-846-9213 Or Ken Whittall-Scherfee 916-446-0955
Source Information:
Missing in Service
Ongoing Search For Mrs. Gertrude Tompkins Silver
The Doe Network: Case File 1453DFCA
Link:
http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/1453dfca.html
Missing since October 26, 1944 from Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California.
Classification: Endangered Missing
Vital Statistics
Age at Time of Disappearance: 32 years old
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; brown eyes.
Circumstances of Disappearance
Gertrude Tompkins Silver, was one of 1,074 Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS) in World War II and the only WASP who disappeared without a trace. She had over 850 hours of flying time, 46 hours of those were in the P-51, and 17 of those were in the D model she was flying at the time of her disappearance.
She was 32 and a bride of just one month when her warplane disappeared during World War II after takeoff from what is now Los Angeles International Airport. Because of a misplaced flight plan, Gertrude Tompkins Silver of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) and the new P-51D Mustang she was ferrying in 1944 weren't even missed for three days.
A search, including the scanning of Santa Monica Bay by military boat with new husband Henry Silver on board, failed to turn up any trace of the young pilot or the newly built single-seat pursuit plane she was to fly across the country for shipment overseas. Months and years passed without any trace of the plane's wreckage in the deserts or mountains along the flier's route to Tucson, the first leg of her assigned journey.
So far, efforts to locate her or her aircraft have yielded no conclusive results.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Pat Macha
714-846-9213 Or Ken Whittall-Scherfee 916-446-0955
Source Information:
Missing in Service
Ongoing Search For Mrs. Gertrude Tompkins Silver
The Doe Network: Case File 1453DFCA
Link:
http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/1453dfca.html