Thomas George Blencoe

1917-2004

Father Nm:  George Blencoe 1869–1949. BIRTH 5 JANUARY 1869 • Norwich, Chenango County, New York. DEATH 6 NOVEMBER 1949 • Alma Center, Jackson County, Wisconsin,

Mother Nm: Carrie Alice Smith 1897–1981.BIRTH 21 OCT 1897 • Barron Wisconsin USA
DEATH 22 DEC 1981 • Black River Falls

Marriage Dt: 1944. Note: photograph of Thomas and Geneva seems likely to have been taken 1944 on their Marriage day.

K comments:

Spouse comments: Geneva Maxine Hesher 1921–2015. BIRTH 28 DECEMBER 1921 • Saline County, Kansas. DEATH 29 SEPTEMBER 2015 • Jackson County, Missouri.

(Research): Ancestry

Oldest Known Ancestor: William Blencowe 1788 Buckingham

Children: Gary T. Blencoe 1946–2002 and one other.

Birth

18 Dec 1917 in Alma, Wisconsin

Before the War

1920 US Census

South Alma Rd, Alma, Jackson, Wisconsin

George Blencoe 57
Carrie Blencoe 22
Thomas Blencoe 2
William Blencoe 61

1930 US Census

Hwy 27, Alma, Jackson, Wisconsin
George Blencoe 60
Carrie Blencoe 32
Thomas Blencoe 12
Arthur Blencoe 6
William Blencoe 71

 

1940 US Census

Hwy 27, Alma, Jackson, Wisconsin
George Blanco 71
Carrie Blanco 42
Thomas Blanco 22 Farm Labourer
Arthur Blanco 4
George Blanco 0

WW2

Blencoe Thomas G , Tech 5, 36251088, US Army, 2nd Air Force

Two records indicate that both Thomas was a Technician level 5 and the photo at top of the page shows in 1944 he wore the Arm Patch of the 2nd Air Force.

1942

• 16 July. Enlisted at Milwaukee and presumably did his basic training in his home state. His promotion the Tech 5 would have been the result of several technical training courses taken at Army bases most likely in the USA. Enlist record – Full Name: Thomas G Blencoe Army Serial Number:36251088
  Enlistment Place: Milwaukee Wisconsin Enlistment Date: 16 Jul 1942
  Branch: Army Race or Ethnicity: White Residence: Jackson County, Wisconsin
  Level of Education:4 years of high school Occupation: Farm hands, general farms
  Marital Status: Single, without dependents
• As the photo above attests he was at some point before 1944 he was either attached or serving with the 2nd Air Force and we can speculate his role was Tech 5 and part of the technical support of 2nd Air Force personnel.

Note:  The Second Air Force was a USAF air force responsible for conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and non-flying officers. This could have been Thomas role ie instructing Technical Training. What might be relevant to Thomas a US Army personnel is that the 2nd Air Force was placed under the Army Air Force AAF Headquarters for its training role in WW2.  “In January 1942, the 2d Air Force was withdrawn from the Western Defense Command and assigned the operational training of units, crews, and replacements for bombardment, fighter, and reconnaissance operations. It received graduates from Army Air Forces Training Command flight schools; navigator training; flexible gunnery schools and various technical schools, organized them into newly activated combat groups and squadrons, and conducted operational unit training (OTU) and replacement training (RTU) to prepare groups and replacements for deployment overseas to combat theaters. ” Wikipedia

Kessler Air Base, Mississipi.

It seems likely that Thomas was based at the 2nd AF at Kessler Air Base. This was a Technical training school and its role in the training of mechanics for B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.

1945-1946

• Discharged. Date unknown.

After the War

• In 1954 was a technician at Globe Labs in Independence, Missouri.
• Later in life, until he retired in the 1980s was an Accountant with Paniplus in Kansas.

Death 2016

Obituary Kansas City Star on Oct. 19, 2014

Thomas George Blencoe, 96, KCMO. passed away October 13, 2014. Visitation begins at 9:30 am, and funeral services are at 10:30 am Saturday, October 25 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Road, KCMO. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Cemetery. Thomas was born December 18, 1917 to William and Carrie (Smith) Blencoe in Alma Center, WI. He was an accountant for Paniplus retiring in the early 1980’s. Thomas was a United States Army veteran of WWII. He also enjoyed round dancing with the Cross Trail Kickers. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; son, Gary Blencoe and one brother, Arthur Blencoe. Survivors include his wife, Geneva M. Blencoe; son, Jerry Blencoe and his wife Cindy; grandson, Brian Blencoe and one brother, George Blencoe. Arr: Park Lawn Funeral Home 816-523-1234

Medals

Thomas was awarded at least the following medals

American Theater and Victory Medal

 

 

Sources

1. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
2. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
3. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
4. U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954
5. Ancestry Military Tree of Blencowes ww2

Gallery