Page 98 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

Taps
Final Flight
_____________________________________________________________________________ WILMER A. PLATE 99
May 31, 1919 – January 1, 2019
Wilmer A. Plate was born on May 31, 1919 in Bennett, Iowa and was eventually joined by two younger brothers and one sister.
While growing up, his family homesteaded in New Mexico and then moved to Crane, Texas. Will worked alongside his father at the family gas station, followed by the family dairy. He felt that gave him a strong work ethic and a firm understanding of what it takes to get the job done and helped prepare him to later become the Commander of a ten-man crew in a B-24 during WWII. After his father passed in 1938, Will took over the primary responsibilities at the dairy. He had so many great stories of his days on the dairy farm, including drunk roosters and “wind broke” horses!
He met the love of his life, Helen in 1938 in Crane and they were married in 1940. Will and Helen had two daughters; Eleanor and Mary. After 71 years of marriage his bride passed away in 2011.
On June 2, 1942, he enlisted in the US Army. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps and was sent to Sheppard Field. From there, he applied for and was accepted into pilot training class 43-I, graduating on October 1, 1943.
After B-24 transition training, he was assigned to Wendover Army Airfield, Utah. Here, he joined the newly activated 489th Bombardment Group (Heavy). After the group was certified in April 1944, they were assigned to the Eighth Air Force. He and his crew trained together
and fought together through every mission during WWII. He always said that the bonds made with combat crew members are stronger than sibling bonds. Will and his crew completed 31 missions on September 27, 1944.
He flew one Group and seven Squadron lead crew positions. After his combat missions were completed, he flew gasoline to General Patton. He met the maximum number of points for discharge and left the service in September, 1945.
After ten months, he re-enlisted in the Army and retained his commission in the Army of the United States. He served in the Training Command, Germany, and Sheppard Air Force Base until his selection as Warrant Officer in 1957. He was then transferred to the Space and Missile System facility at Los Angeles Air Station as the Maintenance Officer.
Wilmer Plate (Second from right, front row) with his B-24 Crew WWII.
98 / DFCS News Magazine / SUMMER 2020