Fred Platt

Fred was one of the best pilots I had the honor of flying with in Laos (1969)

My condolences to a special man. I was an aircraft mechanic who took care of his plane and flew backseat with him a few times. We both took care of Ho Chi, the pet bear cub. One day after we landed, he was still ranting about how they shot his cigar in half. I thought he was kidding till I saw the bullet hole in the unopened right window. Now I laughed and he said something like, You think it's funny, look up. There I saw where a bullet had come up through the floor and out the top past my...

Having only researched, read about, and have seen his 'Party Suit' in the WPAFB Museum, and realize we have lost a true, colorful, courageous, and motivated 'Hero.' 'God Bless' Fred and his remaining legacy !

Fred became a family friend when he was stationed at LAFB in Laredo, Texas. My father has served as a Captain in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a navigator flying out of North Aftica and giving the pilot "a direct heading to the Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo on their way to bomb the Nazis. He and Fred had much to talk about during those long hot South Texas evenings.

One week-end, I came home from U.T. to find two baby ocelots perched on the shelf in my closet. Fred had...

Fred was one of several pilots that I had the honor of flying with (as a back-seater) in Laos back in 1969. He was a good friend and actually came here to Biloxi to see me and my wife some years ago. Spent some time with him and we gave him a ride to the airport. Now he is on his final flight and this time he wont crash land or be shot down.

Fred and I were crew-mates and room-mates at his first flying assignment which was the B-52 G model at Blytheville, AFB Arkansas. I was the Navigator on the crew and Fred was the Co-Pilot. It was always a thrill for me to sit downstairs in "the closet" after a 9 hour mission letting Fred practice "Crash and Dash" for 2 hours. Hitting the correct Flare Speed for touchdown was always a challenge for Fred. I could hear those engines now screaming at the last minute before we HIT the concrete....

A salute to Fred Platt. I am sorry that I never met him to salute him in person.
Sonny Flores

Fred was a good friend and great warrior for all military veteran causes.

MSgt Tom Tinnish, USAH Retired

A real warrior and an asset in the history od freedom.