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.

P51-D File Photo

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.

"Tommy" Tompkins Silver

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.

FMI www.aircraftwrecks.com