Melvin J Bleakman

Military

Object Number - UPL 39767 - "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Pappy" at an 8th Air Force base in England, 16 November 1943."

Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 x combat missions. ETD

Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Thomas J Cahill

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-794098
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

George J Gabriel

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06981775
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Martin L Hooper

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arlo John Roskam

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19003679
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

John R Roth

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33481332
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-29624

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pappy
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron

42-29718

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The widow maker

42-29724

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Minnie
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 94th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 332nd Bomb Squadron 526th Bomb Squadron

42-29934

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Maryland, USA 1 January 1917 Son of Bertha Bleakman.

Enlisted

Baltimore, MD 3 January 1941 Baltimore, Maryland

Enlisted

1 May 1950 Re-Enlistment.

Other

Released from USAF

31 August 1964

Died

Roswell, GA 20 September 2002

Buried

6 December 2002 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, VA

Other

Discharged USAAF

Honourable discharge.

Revisions

Date4 Aug 2019 20:56:22
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/539966172
https://www.fold3.com/record/21762667-melvin-j-bleakman
https://www.fold3.com/record/85212747-melvin-j-bleakman
https://www.fold3.com/record/529321579-melvin-bleakman-1917
http://8thairforce.com/members/missionsflownby.asp?perIdentification=27…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8791909/melvin-j-bleakman

Date27 Sep 2014 18:20:02
ContributorAAM
Sources

379th Bombardier Group Anthology, pg 150 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Melvin J Bleakman: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 39767 - "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside a...