Edward Aloysius Blattner Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURUpdated collection name
June 1, 1922: Edward Aloysius Blattner (Nickname: "Buddy") was born in Chicago Illinois
June 1936: Graduated from St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School, Oak Park Illinois
June 1940: Graduated from Austin High School, Chicago Illinois
July 1, 1944: Graduated from the Army Air Forces Bombardier School of Carlsbad New Mexico, Class of 44-9, with a commission of Flight Officer.
February 11, 1945 (on or about): Arrived at Rattlesden U.K. as bombardier in Bruckman crew.
March 23, 1945: KIA
After the bomb run on March 23, 1945, Ol' Scrapiron (42-31582) dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke. Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing. The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron. The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew on-board was broken apart at the waist.
Tail-gunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen. Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees. The two gunners were captured. The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th.
From MACR 13617:
At 1347 hours, 27000 ft. altitude, the A/C flying No. 11 position of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off A/C of the 487th Group, No. 11 struck A/C #582 who went into a tight spin. The right wing folded and there was one explosion within the A/C in mid-air. #582 then hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again. 2 chutes were observed. Coordinates were approximately (5040-0740). This report corroborated by 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group and 487th Bomb Group.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Butch II
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol Scrapiron
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 23 March 1945
- Date: 21 March 1945
- Official Description:
- Date: 20 March 1945
- Date: 19 March 1945
- Official Description:
- Date: 14 March 1945
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Chicago, Illinois | 1 June 1922 | |
Other Graduated Bombardier School |
Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA | 1 July 1944 | Graduated from the Army Air Forces Bombardier School of Carlsbad New Mexico, Class of 44-9, with a commission of Flight Officer. |
Other Avon Park Florida Army Airfield |
Avon Park Florida | 9 December 1944 | Flight and bombardier training at the army airfield in Avon Park Florida |
Died |
Koblenz, Germany | 23 March 1945 | After the bomb run on March 23, 1945, Ol' Scrapiron (42-31582) dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke. Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing. The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron. The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew on-board was broken apart at the waist. Tail-gunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen. Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees. The two gunners were captured. The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th. From MACR 13617: At 1347 hours, 27000 ft. altitude, the A/C flying No. 11 position of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off A/C of the 487th Group, No. 11 struck A/C #582 who went into a tight spin. The right wing folded and there was one explosion within the A/C in mid-air. #582 then hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again. 2 chutes were observed. Coordinates were approximately (5040-0740). This report corroborated by 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group and 487th Bomb Group. |
Other Elementary School Graduation |
Oak Park, IL, USA | Graduated from St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School, Oak Park Illinois | |
Other High school Graduation |
Chicago, IL, USA | Graduated from Austin High School, Chicago Illinois | |
Other Arrived Rattlesden Airbase |
Rattlesden, Bury Saint Edmunds IP30, UK | Arrived at Rattlesden U.K. as bombardier in Bruckman crew. |
Revisions
Air field referenced in post card from Edward Blattner to his sister Marie Estelle. (From personal collection of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner)
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source:
Personal files and History of 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; p. 269
John G. Huck nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: MACR 13617 and phone and email conversations with Byron Schlag, tailgunner.
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields, p.269
From personal records of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner including copies of referenced MACR and photographs of falling aircraft immediately after the collision. Also from telephone interviews of tail gunner Byron Schlag.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor