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Gertrude Vreeland “Tommy” <I>Tompkins</I> Silver
Cenotaph

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Gertrude Vreeland “Tommy” Tompkins Silver Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA
Death
26 Oct 1944 (aged 32)
California, USA
Cenotaph
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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World War II Woman Aviator. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey and she learned to fly at an early age. She reported to Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in June, 1943 to begin training to become a WASP, (Woman Airforce Service Pilot). She graduated on November 13, 1943 and was stationed at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, with the 5th Ferrying Group. She belonged to an elite group of about 1,100 female pilots formed during World War II, who ferried new warplanes destined for battle, in Europe or the Pacific. On October 26, 1944, she and 40 other pilots were briefed on ferrying new P-51s from the North American Aviation factory at Mines Field, Los Angeles Municipal Airport, Inglewood, California, to Coolidge Field, Arizona. Although only a light haze, there was fog reported over Santa Monica Bay when she took off at 15:42 in aircraft number 669. On October 30, 1944, her home station at Love Field, Texas reported her and P-51 669 missing. A massive air search was launched, but no trace of her or her plane was ever found. Even as late as June 8, 1994, the HQ for Air Force Safety Agency conducted a search and reported that no wreckage of this accident has been located. She was married one month before her disappearance to Hollywood producer, Henry M. Silver and is the only WASP never to be accounted for.
World War II Woman Aviator. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey and she learned to fly at an early age. She reported to Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in June, 1943 to begin training to become a WASP, (Woman Airforce Service Pilot). She graduated on November 13, 1943 and was stationed at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, with the 5th Ferrying Group. She belonged to an elite group of about 1,100 female pilots formed during World War II, who ferried new warplanes destined for battle, in Europe or the Pacific. On October 26, 1944, she and 40 other pilots were briefed on ferrying new P-51s from the North American Aviation factory at Mines Field, Los Angeles Municipal Airport, Inglewood, California, to Coolidge Field, Arizona. Although only a light haze, there was fog reported over Santa Monica Bay when she took off at 15:42 in aircraft number 669. On October 30, 1944, her home station at Love Field, Texas reported her and P-51 669 missing. A massive air search was launched, but no trace of her or her plane was ever found. Even as late as June 8, 1994, the HQ for Air Force Safety Agency conducted a search and reported that no wreckage of this accident has been located. She was married one month before her disappearance to Hollywood producer, Henry M. Silver and is the only WASP never to be accounted for.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith

Gravesite Details

Remains never found



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
  • Added: Oct 15, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7986762/gertrude_vreeland-silver: accessed ), memorial page for Gertrude Vreeland “Tommy” Tompkins Silver (16 Oct 1912–26 Oct 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7986762, citing Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.