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Personal info

Full name
BLAKE, John Henry
Date of birth
14 February 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
New York
Hometown
Cranford, Union County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
12098093
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Assistant Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
760th Bombardment Squadron,
460th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
30 June 1944
Place of death
Near Lake Balaton, Hungary

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 22 32

Immediate family

Members
Jacob H. Blake (father)
Glenna M. (Schading) Blake (mother)
Beatrice A. Blake (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
41-28988
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 6395

More information

S/Sgt John H. Blake was a machinist before he volunteered for the US Army in Rochester, New York on 17 June 1942.

1st Lt Kennon B. Sorgenfrei:
On June 30, 1944, we were in formation to our target of Blechhammer, Germany. Capt John H. White Jr. was leading the high box, 2nd attack unit and I was flying #4 position in the same box. Near Lake Balaton, a weather front was encountered and we started to climb through the thin overcast, which became thicker as time progressed. The lead or rest of the formation could be seen at times. Finally we came out into an open space between two high banks of clouds. Five ships in our box were all the planes visible. About 50 ME 210's were seen and they peeled off in waves of eight and came in firing. The box wasn't very tight and #5 man was hit immediately and peeled down to the right. I dove into the clouds and the last I saw of Capt White, he was flying straight ahead with both wing men and enemy fighters around.

S/Sgt Anselm J. Cattoor:
He was killed by a bullet from the enemy aircraft a minute or so prior to the loss of our own aircraft.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Lendt and Caswell Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com - Russ Pickett
Photo source: -