Ralph Weldon Pletcher

Military

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Zanesville, OH 43701, USA 30 July 1924

Enlisted

Baltimore, MD, USA 29 March 1943

Died

Raleigh, NC, USA 10 January 2013 Ralph graduated from high school at age 16, entered the University of Maryland. He left school at 18 to volunteer for the service in WWII. He was a proud member of the Eighth Air Force, where he served as corporal overseas. After the war, he completed his education at the University of Maryland and went on to obtain a law degree from George Washington University. He worked for years as a credit manager for the Admiral Corporation, Philco and Washington Wholesale Association. After retirement at age 58, he enjoyed playing golf and traveling. He continued his contact involvement with 8th Air Force Historical Society throughout his life. Ralph was always quick with a quip, eager to help, and joking around right up to the end. "Alph". as he was affectionately known to his grandchildren, was a one-of-a-kind gentleman and his playful spirit will be greatly missed. He loved his family, his wife and his country. At church he regularly baked pies and bread to welcome new members. He enjoyed living at Springmoor Retirement Community, where he sang with The Hot Shots and played boccee ball. He was a faithful member of Little Falls United Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC.

Buried

Manassas, VA, USA 14 January 2013 Stonewall Memory Gardens Manassas Prince William County Virginia, USA

Other

466th BG Service

"Our function in Tech Supply was to maintain or obtain a good inventory of replacement parts so that the mechanics could get their planes repaired quickly and ready to fly for the next day's mission. We worked closely with the 787th BS Engineering office. If we didn't have the replacement part on hand, we would get the jeep and make a fast trip to the base Sub Depot. More often than not, I took the night shift. In addition to always being available to the mechanics or Crew Chief, I spent many an hour over in the base hangars taking parts off of crippled aircraft, going to the base Sub Depot and getting new parts for the ones I stripped. None of our other guys did this as I recall. I truly believe that our 787th BS Tech Supply was by far the best stocked, especially with two items; oil coolers and prop governors, both always hard to get. As the night wore on and things settled down, I would in our jeep with the Engineering Office man and drive back to our area to awaken crew members who were scheduled for the days mission. I usually went to chow, then went back to the line to see the planes off, back to breakfast chow and finally sack time until lunch."

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian
written interview of Ralph W. Pletcher c. 2004

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian
written interview of Ralph Pletcher c.2004