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name
BLAIR, Walter A - Date of
birth
4 November 1922 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
San Mateo County, California -
Hometown
Alameda County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-733518 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 October 1943 - Place of
death
Westerschelde, east of Ellewoutsdijk, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Donald L. Blair (father)
Vera A. (Lunerom) Blair (mother)
Louise Blair (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5807 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Rikki Tikki Tavi aka Minor Ball
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke (VDM) aviation industry
MACR: 910
More information
1st Lt Walter A. Blair enlisted on 18 March 1942 at Moffet Field, California.The aircraft was shot down by flak and enemy aircraft on the return flight and crashed at 12.25 h.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Only two bodies were recovered. S/Sgt Towsley's body washed ashore. The exact date and location is not known. The body of S/Sgt Burgess washed ashore at Buitenhaven, Vlissingen on 19 October 1943. He was initially buried at the Northern Cemetery of Vlissingen a day later.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.americanairmuseum.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten