T/Sgt. Tom Whitaker was on leave from the Portland Air Force base to crew as a riding mechanic on the unlimited hydroplane, the home-made Mathiot speed boat named "Quicksilver" of owner-driver Orth Mathiot, in the Gold Cup Regatta held at Lake Washington, near Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, 04 August 1951.<br /><br />The boat surpassed the required minimum qualification speed of 65 mi/h (105 km/h) and sat out the second heat for repairs. In the third and final heat "Quicksilver" was running fourth in a field of seven and had just begun the third lap when it became airborne on the first turn near the south end of the course and disappeared in a cloud of spray.<br /><br />The race was red-flagged, but some of the boats continued at speed for several more laps because the drivers could not see the flags. Seattle's "Slo-Mo-Shun V" boat driven by Ted Jones was adjudged the race winner. After the last boat stopped, all that was found on the surface was a seat cushion, one shoe with a sock inside, and pieces of plywood. Mathiot's body was recovered a few hours later in deep water but Whitaker's body was not pulled from the lake until the next day.<br /><br />Orth Mathiot and Tom Whitaker were reported to be the first fatalities in the 44-year history of the Gold Cup.<br /><br />R.I.P
