Charles Wright Blakley
MilitaryCharles Blakley was Right Waist Gunner on B-24 #42-7635 when it was shot down by fighters on the 21 January mission to bomb V-weapons sites in Northern France. He evaded capture and was back in the UK on 3 April 1944. Missing Air Crew Report MACR 2357. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 551.
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: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14151313
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18162569
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35037588 at enlistment, then O-741141
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11052903 at enlistment, then O-748585
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17106849
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ram-It-DamIt
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 January 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
24 November 1921 | in a farm near Parma, Idaho, the son of George M. and Ruth Estella (Vinson) Blakley | |
Enlisted |
25 August 1942 | Boise, Idaho | |
Other Bailed out |
21 January 1944 | of 42-7635 over France | |
Other Landed in parachute |
21 January 1944 | near Meigneux, 35km SW of Amiens, France | |
Other evaded capture |
21 January 1944 - 30 March 1944 | Helped by French citizens and members of the Résistance, he was guided to Paris, then to Toulouse. He arrived in Spain on 21 March, was led to Gibraltar where he arrived on 30 March. Flown from there to Casablanca, Morocco on 2 April and flown from there to England, landing at RAF station St Mawgan on 3 April, rejoining his unit on 4 April 1944. | |
Died |
9 January 2018 |
Revisions
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources
MACR 3828
NARA WWI Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 551 - https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5555191