Julius Otto Blake Jr
MilitaryJulius Blake enlisted in the Air Corps in April 1942 and followed heavy bomber pilot training. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 94th Bomb Group / 332nd Bomb Squadron in England. He was Pilot of B-17G #42-31150 when it lost an engine on a mission to Diepholz, Germany on 21 February 1944. The Fortress fell out of formation and lost another engine on return to the UK where it crash-landed at the Debach airfield which was still under construction. (10 Returned to Duty). Blake was piloting B-17G #42-39801 'Northern Queen' on the 4 March 1944 mission (his seventh one) to Berlin. Hit by flak, with one engine out, the crew baled out and the a/c crashed near Zevekote, North of Diksmuide, Belgium. Blake landed near Beselare in Northern Belgium and was helped by Belgian patriots in evading capture. He was hidden in various places in Belgium he ended up in the Liege region. Liberated by US troops 9 September 1944 in Petite Enneille, near Somme-Leuze, about 15 km NW of Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium. He was back in England on 11 September 1944. Escape & Evasion report E&E 1973 available on-line at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5556603
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32567253 and O-688624
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19141008
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 4 March 1944
- Date: 21 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Alabama, United States | 3 March 1916 | the son of Julius Otto and Esther (McGowin) Blake |
Enlisted |
Lakeland, Florida, United States | 3 April 1942 | |
Other (Other) Bailed out |
4 March 1944 | at 6700 meters, the last one out of B-17 # 42-39801 | |
Other Landed in parachute |
near Beselare, Belgium | 4 March 1944 | |
Other Evaded capture |
4 March 1944 - 9 September 1944 | Helped by Belgian patriots, was hidden in various safe places in Belgium | |
Other Liberated |
Petite Enneille | 9 September 1944 | Liberated by Belgian troops while being sheltered |
Avon Park, Florida, United States | |||
Died |
|||
Buried |
Myrtle Hill Memorial Cemetery, Tampa, Florida, United States |
Revisions
SOURCES :
MACR 2978
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion report E&E 1973
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2978 / MACR 2978, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database