David Claire Blodgett
MilitaryMACR 4162
David C. Blodgett grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended Franklin High School there and enlisted in the Air Corps in October 1942. In February 1944, he was stationed with the 305th Bomb Group in Ardmore, Oklahoma as an instructor in aerial engineering. He left shortly afterward to Europe and England, being assigned to the 410th Bomb Squadron in the 94th Bomb Group.
David Blodgett was Left Waist Gunner on B-17G #42-102457 'Filthy Hag" when it was hit by Flak at an altitude of 23,000 feet on the 22 April 1944 mission to Hamm, Germany. It caught fire, 2 engines on the same side were knocked out and the communications system destroyed. David Blodgett, Right Waist Gunner Frank G. Scorsune and Radio Operator Carl J. Eckhart bailed out of the burning plane. The aircraft was flown back to England by the pilot, Lt Frank A. Bartos and the three men were made prisoner. All three were interned at Stalag XVIIB in Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. Liberated from Stalag XVIIB on 2 May 1945, David was back on furlough to Cedar Rapids on 13 June. He re-enlisted, as a T/Sgt in the Air Corps, on 2 November 1945 at the Great Plains Bombing Range, Sub Base of Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32630492
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34150775
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Filthy Hag aka Gloria
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 22 April 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Iowa, United States | 24 June 1924 | the son of John C. and Catherine L. Blodgett |
Enlisted |
27 October 1942 | ||
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria | 22 April 1944 - 2 May 1945 | Bailed out of plane with 2 other crew members; pilot brought aircraft back to England. Captured, was interned at Stalag Luft 17B/XVIIB in Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. Liberated by US troops on 2 May 1945. NARA WWII POW records :" Returned to Military control 24/05/1945." |
Died |
Iowa, United States | 1 April 1979 | |
Born |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States |
Revisions
Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces vol 3 pg 646