Warbird Information Exchange

Search For WASP Pilot Resumes Santa Monica Bay Search Set For October 5th To 10th

Locating the only missing WWII Women's Air Force Service Pilot
Gertrude V. "Tommy" Tompkins Silver and her North American Aviation
P-51D Mustang fighter plane will be the focal point of a
greatly expanded, all-volunteer search effort.

WASP Tompkins Silver disappeared October 26, 1944 without a
trace, after taking off to deliver the factory fresh P-51D destined
for Newark New Jersey, from what is now LAX.

In May of 2009, the UB88.org team, under the direction of Gary
Fabian, resumed the Santa Monica Bay search effort. This search
will be augmented by an expedition of highly qualified divers, boat
captains and their crews, aircraft and marine archaeologists,
multibeam and side scan technicians.

Members of The Explorers Club and the Missing Aircraft Search
Team (MAST) will also join the effort. Search team progress and
updates will be posted online as developments warrant. The search
team will discuss the efforts with the media at the Western Museum
of Flight at Torrance Airport in California on October 4th at
1300.