In the 1940s, an elite group of American female pilots known as the WASPs risked their lives during WWII, testing new airplane models, transporting aircraft, and preparing fighter planes for combat. In October 1944, Gertrude Tompkins Silver took off from Los Angeles in a P-51 Mustang. It was supposed to be a routine flight, but four days after takeoff, Gertrude was declared missing.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices