James Riley Blackburn
Military ROLL OF HONOURJames Blackburn was a Navigator in the 92nd Bomb Group / 407th Bomb Squadron Participating in many operations, he was shot down on the 6 September 1943 mission to Stuttgart, Germany in B-17 42-3428 (camera ship) with Pilot Lt Robert W. Carlson. The plane ditched in the Channel near Penhurst and the 10 crew members were saved by the Air Rescue Service and returned to base, with Carlson and 5 men injured (scratches) in the ditching.
Lt. James Blackburn was again shot down, on the 14 October 1943 mission to Schweinfurt in B-17 42-30726. Killed in Action (KIA). Missing Air Crew Report 846.
James Blackburn was a Navigator in the 92nd Bomb Group / 407th Bomb Squadron Participating in many operations, he was shot down on the 6 September 1943 mission to Stuttgart, Germany in B-17 42-3428 (camera ship) with Pilot Lt Robert W. Carlson. The plane ditched in the Channel near Penhurst and the 10 crew members were saved by the Air Rescue Service and returned to base, with Carlson and 5 men injured (scratches) in the ditching.
Lt. James Blackburn was again shot down, on the 14 October 1943 mission to Schweinfurt to destroy a ball bearing plant in B-17 42-30726. The plane was hit and caught fire at 23,000 feet. Seven crew members including the pilot and co-pilot evacuated and were captured by the Germans and sent to POW camps until the end of the war. Three crewmen, James R Blackburn- Navagator, Joe Costello-Aerial Gunner, and Joseph Flory-Left Waist Gunner were caught in an explosion, and were Killed in Action (KIA). Missing Air Crew Report 846.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12032792 and O-735423
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
Canada | 2 June 1941 | as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps |
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
near Kembach, Germany | 14 October 1943 | Co-Pilot McIntosh reported that the plane was on fire and that he was blown out. He said Blackburn was still in the aircraft at the time of the explosion. |
Royal, Antelope, Nebraska, USA | |||
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States | |||
Buried |
Kembach, Germany | Initially buried in the cemetery at Kembach near Wertheim, Germany | |
Buried |
James Blackburn's remains were brought after the war to the Lorraine Cemetery. He rests at Plot B Row 29 Grave 45 |
Revisions
Info taken from biographies of fellow crewmen, and recorded by Cathy Blackburn Sylvester, neice of James R Blackburn
Photo provided by wife, Audrey Horn Blackburn Latzke, and uploaded by neice, Cathryn Blackburn Sylvester
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 1671 ;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
MACR 846
Link to ditching of 42-3428
NARA's WWII Enlistment Records
US 1940 Census
MACR 846
Link to ditching of 42-3428
NARA's WWII Enlistment Records
US 1940 Census
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 846 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor; MACR 846