Calvin Thomas Bladen
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
US Official photo published in the Evening Star Newspaper, Washington DC, August 14, 1945.
Shared with the American Air Museum by registered user Bill Wheeler.
Object Number - UPL 28035 - Sergeant Calvin T Bladen
Assigned to the 493rd BG on the 24th August 1944 with the Lt James Kittleson crew.
MOS 757 RADIO OPERATOR-MECHANIC-GUNNER
Flew 1st combat mission on 9th September 1944 as Radio Operator.
Shot down 12 September 1944 in AC #43-38098. Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38420299
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35916197
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-772939
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier, Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35432219 at enlistment, then T-61537
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32921148
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 12 September 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Capitol Heights, Prince George County, Maryland | 28 December 1916 | |
|
Enlisted |
Denver, CO, USA | 12 April 1943 | |
|
Other Killed In Action (KIA) |
12 September 1944 | in the crash of B-17#43-38098, Hadmersleben, 4km SE of Oschersleben, Germany | |
|
Buried |
14 September 1944 | at the cemetery of Hornhausen, 4km NW of Oschersleben, Germany | |
| Denver, CO, USA | |||
|
Buried |
Suitland, Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746, USA | At Cedar Hill Cemetery |
Revisions
updated biography and added crew assignment
493rd BG Archives
corrected position. flew 2 x missions with Kittleson crew, both missions as Radio Operator
details from 493rd BG records
Per discussion with the subject's brother. While his normal assignment was radioman, he was a waist gunner for the fata part of this mission since the crew was one man short (waist gunner) .
Gary Balden, nephew states that Bladen served as both Radio operator and waist gunner during the mission he was lost on.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8863 / MACR 8863, http://493bgdebach.co.uk/roster_list.php / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
