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Photographer: Don Morfe
Taken: June 30, 2008
Caption: Erwin R. Bleckley-Medal of Honor Recipient World War I
Additional Description: He is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *BLECKLEY, ERWIN R. • Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 130th Field Artillery, observer 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service • Place and date. Near Binarville, France, 6 October 1918 (Air Mission) • Entered service at: Wichita, Kans. • G.O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922 Citation: 2d Lt. Bleckley, with his pilot, 1st Lt. Harold E. Goettler, Air Service, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division, which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of his mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in fatal wounds to 2d Lt. Bleckley, who died before he could be taken to a hospital. In attempting and performing this mission 2d Lt. Bleckley showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage, and valor.
Submitted: January 11, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.
Database Locator Identification Number: p343863
File Size: 3.159 Megabytes

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