Gertrude Tompkins Silver

Gertrude "Tommy" Tompkins Silver (disappeared October 26, 1944) was the only Women Airforce Service Pilots member to go missing during World War II. Early life: Gertrude Vreeland Tompkins was born October 16, 1911, in Jersey City, New Jersey, the daughter of Vreeland Tompkins, founder of Smooth-On, Inc., and Laura Tompkins (née Towar). Disappearance and search: She departed from Mines Field (Los Angeles International Airport) for Palm Springs, on October 26, 1944, flying a North American P-51D Mustang destined for New Jersey. She never arrived at Palm Springs and due to reporting errors a search wasn't started until three days later. Despite an extensive ground and water search no trace of Gertrude or the aircraft were found. Follow up and aftermath: In January 2010 search efforts to locate the possible crash site in Santa Monica Bay were unsuccessful.