Arlen Richard Baldridge
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 23291 - 1st Lt Arlen R Baldridge 368FS, 359FG, 8AF.
Killed in Action (KIA). Crashed near Barenhorst (3 mi NE of Wismar, Germany) in P-51 43-6962. Returning from strafing trains near Rostock when German flak severely damaged his P-51. After wheels-up landing 'Baldy' climbed out of his Mustang and ran for a patch of woods. Slowed by tall grass and heavy flying gear, he was soon captured by 2 German soldiers on motorcycles. Exhausted he surrendered and was taken as prisoner to Bad Doberan. By the end of the day his body was lying in the Bad Doberan morgue. After being severely beaten, he died from a single shot in the heart.
Award: DFC, AM, PH.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=RQw6Mu-P)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Charleston, West Virginia, USA | 19 June 1921 | Son of Arlen and Helen Dewey [Blagg] Baldridge. |
|
Enlisted |
Charleston, WV | 9 April 1942 | Charleston, West Virginia |
|
Other Promotion |
Wretham, Thetford IP24, UK | 12 April 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
|
Died |
Bad Doberan, Germany | 21 May 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Rostock when hit by flak, force landed and captured alive. Tortured and murdered. KIA. MACR 5113. |
|
Buried |
Bad Doberan, Germany | 23 May 1944 | Bad Doberan Cemetery |
|
Buried |
Cunningham Memorial Park Saint Albans, Kanawha County, WV | 21 July 1948 | Re-Interred Cunningham Memorial Park Saint Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia |
| Poca, West Virginia, USA | |||
|
Based |
East Wretham | 21 May 1944 | Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.
Added locations to several events per info provided in the event data.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5113 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
