Patricia OVERMAN
National Wing Commander
Area of Study: Bastogne, Rhine Crossing and Flying Pipeline
Unit focus: 438th TCG and 435th TCG

Patricia is the National Wing Commander of the Association. Glider Pilot Lt. Col George Theis asked Patricia to take over as web developer for the Association's website. Uploading the legacy database, Patricia developed the online database to create a database driven website. She also helps administer the social media sites.

Over the years she has given presentations on the glider program with other glider pilot veterans. Along with other team members she has obtained WWII historical files from the various governmental resources in aid of updating and documenting the 7000 plus records in the Association’s database.

In 2013 she discovered that veteran Bob Swenson had not received an overdue Bronze Star Medal for his participation in the Varsity Operation, specifically, the Battle of Burp Gun Corner. Patricia arranged to have the award presented by Maj General Kenneth Dahl, Deputy Commanding General I Corps, Joint Base Lewis McChord.

In 2013 Patricia was awarded the S. Tipton Randolph Memorial Award for outstanding service in the interest of the National World War II Glider Pilots Association, Inc.

Left to right: Deputy Mayor of Ris_Orangis Mr. Marcus Mboudou; Mr. Jean-Pierre Vinchon of the GROUPE DE RIS-ORANGIS D’HISTOIRE LOCALE. Next is Jean-Jeaques Bernard and Jeannine Pommery,a friend of Patricia's father, is holding Patricia's gift. A plaque presented to the Silent Wings Museum from Ville De Ris-Orangis

While doing research on a book about the chateaux used by the pilots of the 435th while they were stationed at air field A-48 (Bretigny, Fr) Patricia received help from the Ris Orangis historical society (GROUPE DE RIS-ORANGIS D’HISTOIRE LOCALE). In 2015 she presented her book titled Les Château de L’Aerodrome A-48; Foyers de Pilotes Amêricains Durant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale to the city and their historical society on the 70th Anniversary of the Rhine Crossing. On the steps of Chateau De Fleury, 77th Troop Carrier Squadron's billot. Back to front: Bernard CHAIN, Friend of Bernard Christophel, Max DUFFAR, Odile GARRIGUE, Bernard CHRISTOPHEL, Jean-Jeaques BERNARD, Michel COUSTOU, Jean Pierre VALJENT, Jean Pierre VINCHON, Philippe ARAKELIAN , Jeannine (Pommery) BERNARD, Patricia OVERMAN , Bruce OVERMAN, Barbara WOODS, Isabele MONNIER

Patricia is also a contributor to the WWII Quarterly An American College Goes to War published in Winter 2013. Her article, on “ The Flying Pipeline”, was published in the Winter 2018 edition and is published online at the Warfare History Network.

Her father was Maj. E. Lee Whitmire, USAF (Ret.) b.1924 - d.1972, was duel rated; Power Pilot/Glider Pilot. He was assigned to the 438th TCG, 88th TCS, and at age 20 flew two combat resupply missions as co-pilot in a C-47 resupplying the 82nd (Hogan's forces at Macouray) and 101st airborne at Bastogne. For the Varsity Operation He was assigned to the 435th TCG, 78th TCS. Lee flew Serial A-13 Glider Chalk # 143 landing in landing zone "S" under heavy enemy fire. He received the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. Lee was also a member of the 435th Provisional Glider Pilots Infantry Company where in 1996 they were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for preventing the enemy from breaking through their line in the famous Battle of Burp Gun Corner. He stayed in the reserves and retired as a Major in 1965.

In 2016 Patricia helped to create the Leon B Spencer Research Team and has been a member helping families discover their WWII relative’s war history.

In 2017 the veterans of the Associaiton nominated Patricia as their National Wing Commander, a position she most treasures because it was a trust from the veterans.