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Submit- Full
name
BLANKENSHIP, William Leslie - Date of
birth
17 October 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Chesterfield County, Virginia -
Hometown
Petersburg, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13065160 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Air Gunner -
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Dreetz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 33 | 46 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Grover C. Blankenship (father)
Virginia V. (Cardwell) Blankenship (mother)
Gerald G. Blankenship (brother)
Cornelia M. Blankenship (sister)
Gloria B. Blankenship (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38337 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cloud Hopper
Destination: Derben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11721
More information
T/Sgt William L. Blankenship worked in a laundry before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Nashville, Tennessee on 30 January 1943.The Missing Aircrew Report reports: "Aircraft lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 FW 190s and ME 109s in the area between 5300N-1200E and 5220N-1250E at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during these encounters, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft. Approximately 14 chutes reported seen from the 8 aircraft lost in this squadron."
Six crew members were killed, three were taken prisoner.
The deceased crew members were initially buried at the community cemetery of Dreetz on the same day as the crash. On 1 July 1947, the remains were disinterred and the bodies of five members, John B. Hankey, Robert R. Richter, William L. Blankenship, William I Sink Jr. and Ralph G. Beighley were discovered in a common grave without coffins.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Robbin's Family Tree,
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Robert Badgett, www.ancestry.com - Blow Robbin