Although the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
Military
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.
Original photograph: National Archives, College Park, MD. 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 onboard was broken apart at the waist. Tailgunner 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.
Letter dated March 19, 1945 to Edward Blattner from his sister Marie Estelle. This letter was returned to Estelle marked "Missing in Action".
Letter (September 9, 1944) from Edward A. Blattner to his sister, Marie Estelle - Page 2
Letter (September 9, 1944) from Edward A. Blattner to his sister, Marie Estelle - Page 1
Letter (1944 probably November) from Edward A. Blattner to his sister, Marie Estelle and her husband Francis Huck - Page 2 of 2 Page 1: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/36171
Letter (1944 probably November) from Edward A. Blattner to his sister, Marie Estelle and her husband Francis Huck - Page 1 of 2 Page 2 https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/36172
Edward A. Blattner (left) and unknown. Photograph probably taken on leave in Chicago, summer 1944 in front of his home at 131 S. Mayfield Ave, Chicago Illinois.
Edward A. Blattner officer's calling card.
Edward Blattner Bombardier School graduation announcement, July 1, 1944
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.
Group
The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/43; Gr Island 3/10/43; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 19/11/43; transferred 708BS/447BG [CQ- ] Rattlesden /43; Salvaged 20/4/45. BUTCH II.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Paine Fd 28/11/43; Toledo 1/12/43; Felts Fd 4/12/43; Gt falls 5/12/43; Cheyenne 7/12/43; Kearney 19/12/43; Detroit 8/1/44; Montreal 10/1/44; Presque 12/1/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 23/1/44.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/2/44; Kearney 16/3/44; Dow Fd 5/4/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 11/4/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 9/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/12/43; Dalhart 16/1/44; Kearney 22/2/44; Assigned 457BG Glatton 2/3/44; transferred 711BS/447BG [IR-C] Rattlesden 3/3/44; mid-air collision with 44-83279 (447BG) with Bob Chowning 22/3/44, force landed 20 miles NW base; Salvaged...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 2/3/44; Hunter 7/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 1/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 11/9/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 12/11/45.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 13/9/44; Grenier 27/9/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 1/10/44; Missing in Action Oranienburg 15/3/45 with Harluf Jessen, Harry Pfautz, Karl Laubhan, Dick Kirkorowski, Helmer Gangestad, Claude Gatlin, Ed Evans tg, Cecil Campbell...
26 February 1945
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
...
8 March 1945
Mission 872: 1,353 bombers and 326 fighters are dispatched to hit benzol plants, an oil plant and rail targets in Germany using PFF; NO AIRCRAFT ARE LOST AND THERE ARE NO CASUALTIES!
...
9 March 1945
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
...
11 March 1945
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
...
14 March 1945
"1,250 Heavies Strike Tanks, Gun Factories Near Hanover"
...
19 March 1945
20 March 1945
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
...
21 March 1945
23 March 1945
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
...
Military site : airfield
Built for the Eighth Air Force in 1942, Rattlesden had three concrete runways, 50 hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. Intended to be a twin-engine B-26 bomber base, it was originally a satellite for nearby Rougham, and first occupied from...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Chicago, Illinois | 1 June 1922 |
| Elementary School Graduation | Oak Park, IL, USA | June 1936 |
|
Graduated from St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School, Oak Park Illinois |
||
| High school Graduation | Chicago, IL, USA | June 1940 |
|
Graduated from Austin High School, Chicago Illinois |
||
| 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. |
||
| Avon Park Florida Army Airfield | Avon Park Florida | 9 December 1944 |
|
Flight and bombardier training at the army airfield in Avon Park Florida |
||
| Arrived Rattlesden Airbase | Rattlesden, Bury Saint Edmunds IP30, UK | February 1945 |
|
Arrived at Rattlesden U.K. as bombardier in Bruckman crew. |
||
| 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. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 August 2020 21:49:40 | decwriter | Changes to awards |
| Sources | ||
NARA file verified Air Medal awarded as Flight Officer in 1944. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 October 2018 02:17:34 | jhuck | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Set location of Avon Park Florida |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 October 2018 02:13:12 | jhuck | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
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) |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 September 2018 00:24:27 | jhuck | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner Source: |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 September 2018 21:48:18 | jhuck | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner Source: Personal files |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 September 2018 21:45:17 | jhuck | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck nephew of Edward Blattner Source: MACR 13617 and phone and email conversations with Byron Schlag, tailgunner. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 September 2018 21:42:14 | jhuck | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields, p.269 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 September 2018 16:48:15 | jhuck | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner Source: Personal files |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 September 2018 21:30:38 | jhuck | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner Source: Personal files |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 September 2018 20:50:50 | jhuck | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2018 22:25:22 | jhuck | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
From the personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2018 21:39:09 | jhuck | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
From the files of John G, Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2018 21:31:57 | jhuck | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
From personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2018 20:27:36 | jhuck | Changes to service number |
| Sources | ||
Official service record from files of John G. Huck |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2018 20:10:08 | jhuck | Changes to awards |
| Sources | ||
Official Military Record from files of John G. Huck |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2018 17:50:31 | jhuck | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
John G. Huck MACR #13617 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 September 2018 20:03:31 | jhuck | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
From the personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 September 2018 19:33:47 | jhuck | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
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. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 September 2018 19:24:48 | jhuck | Changes to middlename, nickname, awards and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Personal records of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:08:13 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor |
||
