Edward Aloysius Blattner Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-35564.jpeg UPL 35564 Edward A. Blattner Sr. and Edward A. Blattner Jr., circa summer 1944 on military leave. Photo taken in the alley behind their home at 131 S. Mayfield Ave., Chicago Illinois. Last known photo of the two together.

Updated collection name

Object Number - UPL 35564 - Edward A. Blattner Sr. and Edward A. Blattner Jr., circa summer 1944 on military leave. Photo taken in the alley behind their home at 131 S. Mayfield...

June 1, 1922: Edward Aloysius Blattner (Nickname: "Buddy") was born in Chicago Illinois



June 1936: Graduated from St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School, Oak Park Illinois



June 1940: Graduated from Austin High School, Chicago Illinois



July 1, 1944: Graduated from the Army Air Forces Bombardier School of Carlsbad New Mexico, Class of 44-9, with a commission of Flight Officer.



February 11, 1945 (on or about): Arrived at Rattlesden U.K. as bombardier in Bruckman crew.



March 23, 1945: KIA



After the bomb run on March 23, 1945, Ol' Scrapiron (42-31582) dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke. Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing. The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron. The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew on-board was broken apart at the waist.



Tail-gunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen. Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees. The two gunners were captured. The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th.



From MACR 13617:



At 1347 hours, 27000 ft. altitude, the A/C flying No. 11 position of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off A/C of the 487th Group, No. 11 struck A/C #582 who went into a tight spin. The right wing folded and there was one explosion within the A/C in mid-air. #582 then hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again. 2 chutes were observed. Coordinates were approximately (5040-0740). This report corroborated by 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group and 487th Bomb Group.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A ground crewman with a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31092) of the 447th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: 'ISAD 22 June 44 (1574) Crash Landing B17G 42-31092 HON WS.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Batch II.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Butch II
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol Scrapiron
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 20 March 1945
  • Date: 19 March 1945
  • Official Description:
  • Date: 14 March 1945
  • Official Description:

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, Illinois 1 June 1922

Other

Graduated Bombardier School

Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA 1 July 1944 Graduated from the Army Air Forces Bombardier School of Carlsbad New Mexico, Class of 44-9, with a commission of Flight Officer.

Other

Avon Park Florida Army Airfield

Avon Park Florida 9 December 1944 Flight and bombardier training at the army airfield in Avon Park Florida

Died

Koblenz, Germany 23 March 1945 After the bomb run on March 23, 1945, Ol' Scrapiron (42-31582) dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke. Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing. The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron. The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew on-board was broken apart at the waist. Tail-gunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen. Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees. The two gunners were captured. The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th. From MACR 13617: At 1347 hours, 27000 ft. altitude, the A/C flying No. 11 position of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off A/C of the 487th Group, No. 11 struck A/C #582 who went into a tight spin. The right wing folded and there was one explosion within the A/C in mid-air. #582 then hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again. 2 chutes were observed. Coordinates were approximately (5040-0740). This report corroborated by 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group and 487th Bomb Group.

Other

Elementary School Graduation

Oak Park, IL, USA Graduated from St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School, Oak Park Illinois

Other

High school Graduation

Chicago, IL, USA Graduated from Austin High School, Chicago Illinois

Other

Arrived Rattlesden Airbase

Rattlesden, Bury Saint Edmunds IP30, UK Arrived at Rattlesden U.K. as bombardier in Bruckman crew.

Revisions

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NARA file verified Air Medal awarded as Flight Officer in 1944.

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Set location of Avon Park Florida

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Air field referenced in post card from Edward Blattner to his sister Marie Estelle. (From personal collection of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner)

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John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source:
Personal files and History of 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; p. 269

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Contributorjhuck
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John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: Personal files

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Contributorjhuck
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John G. Huck nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: MACR 13617 and phone and email conversations with Byron Schlag, tailgunner.

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Contributorjhuck
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John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields, p.269

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Contributorjhuck
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John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: Personal files

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Contributorjhuck
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John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: Personal files

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Contributorjhuck
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Personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Date
Contributorjhuck
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From the personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

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Contributorjhuck
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From the files of John G, Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

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Contributorjhuck
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From personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner.

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Official service record from files of John G. Huck

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Official Military Record from files of John G. Huck

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John G. Huck MACR #13617

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From the personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner.

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From personal records of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner including copies of referenced MACR and photographs of falling aircraft immediately after the collision. Also from telephone interviews of tail gunner Byron Schlag.

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Personal records of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor

Edward Aloysius Blattner: Gallery (12 items)