John M Blaida Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-24088.jpeg UPL 24088 John M. Blaida - Graduate of Wendover aerial gunnery and fire control school at Wendover Field, Utah.
Monroe Evening News Saturday, September 18, 1943

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Object Number - UPL 24088 - John M. Blaida - Graduate of Wendover aerial gunnery and fire control school at Wendover Field, Utah. Monroe Evening News Saturday, September 18,...

John M. Blaida was born in 1923 to John and Helen Blaida. He grew up in Monroe, Michigan at 216 Almyre Ave. He had one older brother Joseph and two younger sisters Elizabeth & Andrenett. He attended St. Joseph's Elementary and graduated from Monroe High School in 1941. After school he became a metal worker at Ford's Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The plant produced B-24 Liberators -- the same type of plane that he would serve on. John was never married and never had any kids.



He enlisted in the Air Force on December 10, 1942 at the age of 19. After entering the service John was first stationed at Fort Custer, Michigan and received further training in St. Petersburg, Florida. John completed radio training at Traux Field, Wisconsin, and then armament school at Lowry Field, Colorado in July 1943. He graduated from Aerial Gunnery and Fire Control school at Wendover Field, Utah in September 1943. After his training he joined the 392nd Bomb Group, 576th Bomb Squadron that was stationed in Wendling, England. John was assigned to a B-24H #42-95136 as a waist gunner. During his seventh mission on May 29 at 1145 hours John's plane was shot down by a German fighter. The plane was ninety-nine percent destroyed in an air explosion. Fire engulfed the unexploded bombs at the crash site near the village called Gueltz, Germany. He was killed at 21 years old, Today his body is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery in plot D, row 7, grave 49. During his service he was awarded two metals, the Air Metal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.



Following Content Created Prior To 5/19/2016

Shot down 29 May 1944 in B-24 #42-95136. Killed in Action (KIA)

AM w/ Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH

Staff Sergeant John M. Blaida was born on (date unknown). His next of kin was his mother, Helen Blaida. He was from Monroe, Michigan.

While serving as Assistant Radio Operator aboard B-24 tail #42-95136 of the 392nd Bomb Group, 576th Bomb Squadron, he was downed and killed, with 9 of 10 of his crewmates, over Stettin, Germany on May 29, 1944.

He is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery at Neupre, Belgium.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 392nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 576th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Monroe, Michigan, USA Staff Sergeant John M. Blaida was born on (date unknown). His next of kin was his mother, Helen Blaida. He was from Monroe, Michigan.

Buried

Neupré, Belgium He is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery at Neupre, Belgium.

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Germany 29 May 1944 While serving as Assistant Radio Operator aboard B-24 tail #42-95136 of the 392nd Bomb Group, 576th Bomb Squadron, he was downed and killed, with 9 of 10 of his crewmates, over Stettin, Germany on May 29, 1944.

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Capitalized the words "Waist Gunner" in the "Role/job" field.

 

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Contributordecwriter
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PH awarded posthumously to Next of Kin.

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Contributordecwriter
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NARA file verified middle initial and AM w/1 oak leaf cluster.

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ContributorA Hill
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Monroe Evening News - Saturday, September 18, 1943
Monroe, Michigan

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ContributorA Hill
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Niedermeier Center for Education - Public History Seminar Spring 2016

Monroe Evening News
News of the Services. "Completes Course" Monroe Evening News [Monroe, MI] 10 July 1943
News of the Services. "Brothers in the Service" Monroe Evening News [Monroe, MI] 9 September 1943
News of the Services. "John M Blaida" Monroe Evening News [Monroe, MI] 18 September 1943
News of the Services "Missing in Action" Monroe Evening News [Monroe, MI] 17 July 1944
Obituary. "John Blaida" Monroe Evening News [Monroe, MI] 13 July 1944

Federal Census- Monroe, MI
1930; Census Place: Monroe, Monroe, Michigan; Roll: 1013; Page: 43A; Enumeration District: 0026; Image 232.0; FHL
1940; Census Place: Monroe, Monroe, Michigan; Roll: T627_1792; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 58-33

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Contributorbryant1997
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Niedermeier Center for Education-- Public History Seminar Spring 2016

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Contributorbryant1997
Changes
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Niedermeier Center for Education-- Public History Seminar Spring 2016

Date
Contributorbryant1997
Changes
Sources

Niedermeier Center for Education-- Public History Seminar Spring 2016

Date
Contributorbryant1997
Changes
Sources

Niedermeier Center for Education-- Public History Seminar Spring 2016

Date
Contributorbryant1997
Changes
Sources

Niedermeier Center for Education-- Public History Seminar Spring 2016

Date
Contributorbryant1997
Changes
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Niedermeier Center for Education-- Public History Seminar Spring 2016

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Changes
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IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.

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ContributorAAM
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ABMC, MACR 5212 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5212 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

John M Blaida: Gallery (3 items)