John Robert Blaylock
Military ROLL OF HONOUR"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 19 "Killed in Action", by Charles D Taylor
John Blaylock graduated from the University of Iowa in June, 1941 and shortly thereafter enlisted in the Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. After training as a Pilot, he received his wings and was sent overseas. He arrived in England in April, 1943, where he was stationed at Polebrook, the 351st Bomb Group base. Promoted to Major on 15 September 1943, he flew a number of missions, including one with actor Clark Gable. As Commanding Officer of his 510th Bomb Squadron, John was Pilot of the Group’s lead bomber B-17 42-37731 on the 31 December 1943 mission to Bordeaux, France. The B-17 was hit by Flak and attacked by German fighters. He was reported by surviving crew members as seen bailing out of the plane near the mouth of the Gironde River, near Royan, France. Apparently, his chute failed to open and he was found dead by the Germans. Killed In Action (KIA).
Connections
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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: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20273261 & O-790784
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728350 and 19060455 on enlisting
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron 510th Bomb Squadron 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-021528
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot; Pilot; Group Commanding Officer
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 31 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Grand Junction, Greene County, Iowa, United States | 17 November 1919 | the son of John F. and Annabelle Blaylock |
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
near Médis, France | 31 December 1943 | Surviving crew members had seen him bailing out. His chute apparently failed and his body was found by the Germans. |
Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States | |||
Buried |
John Blaylock rests at Section 12, site 4043 |
Revisions
MACR 1984
NARA WWII Enlistment records
http://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnamesA_B/BlaylockJohnRobert.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1984 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database