James Riley Blackburn

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-38879.jpeg UPL 38879 James R "Jimmy" Blackburn

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 in B-17 42-30726. Killed in Action (KIA). Missing Air Crew Report 846.

Object Number - UPL 38879 - James R "Jimmy" Blackburn

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

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Units served with

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32513804
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38124471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33350889
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron

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

Date
Contributorcsylvstr
Changes
Sources

Info taken from biographies of fellow crewmen, and recorded by Cathy Blackburn Sylvester, neice of James R Blackburn

Date
Contributorcsylvstr
Changes
Sources

Photo provided by wife, Audrey Horn Blackburn Latzke, and uploaded by neice, Cathryn Blackburn Sylvester

Date
Contributorcsylvstr
Changes
Sources

Information reported by neice, Cathryn Blackburn Sylvester

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 1671 ;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 846
Link to ditching of 42-3428
NARA's WWII Enlistment Records
US 1940 Census

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 846
Link to ditching of 42-3428
NARA's WWII Enlistment Records
US 1940 Census

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

James Riley Blackburn: Gallery (1 items)