Blencowe Frederick Arthur 1921

Frederick Arthur Blencowe

1921-2004

Father Nm: Frederick William Blencowe. [4307]1889–. BIRTH 1889 • East Dulwich, Camberwell, London, England. died 7 Jun 1906 Dul

Mother Nm: Zilpa P Trescott Born USA

Marriage Dt: 1946 • Harris, Texas, USA

K comments: Family tree also shows Frederick had two uncles who served in WW2 , Sidney Fenner was KIA in 1917 while with the Australian Army, Francis D was wounded with the British forces and in addition, his son Arthur Frank was killed in WW2. Sister Mary Emily’s spouse Bennett Pancoast served with US Army

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Spouse comments: Dorothy Jeanne Ballenger
BIRTH Unknown

(Research): Ancestry

Oldest Known Ancestor: Thomas Blencowe 1803–1885
BIRTH 1803 • Brackley, Northamptonshire, England
DEATH 1885 • 5 Bowdale Road, Camberwell, London, England

Children: Mark Trescott 1956-1997, Paul Sherwood Blencowe 1953-

Birth

15 AUG 1921 • Ridley Park Pennsylvania

Before the War
1940  Census
the is the House the Blencowes resided in 1940

18 East Grant Street, Woodstown, Salem, New Jersey
Residence in 1935: Same House

Frederick Blencowe 51 Laundry Proprietor
Sarah Blencowe 61
Maref E Blencowe 24
Frederick Blencowe 18
Anna Davis 75

WW2

USAAF

384th Bomber Group

Blencowe, Frederick A, Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant, RADAR, or ‘Mickey’ Navigator, Serial Number O-682454

 

1941-1943
  • 9 April. Frederick enlisted in the US Army Air Force and was immediately sent for training in his case probably completed 18 weeks at Navigator School. Navigator School consisted of 500 hours of ground instruction in the duties of a navigator (charting, directional bearings, computed headings, airspeed, radio codes, celestial navigation, etc.). This was combined with familiarity with the tasks of a pilot or radioman in case of emergency. After four weeks the cadet acted as a navigator in day and night flights in Advanced Navigator trainers like the AT-7 Navigator or AT-11A Kansan. Graduates received a navigator’s wings. sent to the University of Texas for 2.5 years.
  • Attended University of Texas as school yearbooks for 1941 and 1943 attest.
1944
  • 5 November  Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #218 dated 5 November 1944 to be a Duty Navigator Radar. Within this  Squadron, he was assigned to the 384th Bomber Group which was based in England at RAF Grafton Underwood in Northamptonshire.
  • Missions – In all 26 Missions are recorded for the 384th Group in 1944-45 some in here Frederick flew in. We are lucky to have three mission group photos on the page in which Frederick is shown with his colleagues. To see much more detail about the missions click links (in Table) to https://384thbombgroup.com/
    Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
    226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical – Artillery Positions
    Type: Military
    Location: Eschweiler, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    PFF & Gee-H ship; lead squadron lead, 41st Bomb Wing D group. Landed away at RAF Tilstock, Shropshire, due to weather.
    Sortie Report⇗
    230⇗ 26 November 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Altenbeken, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead; PFF & Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    231⇗ 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Offenburg, Germany    		 Navigator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead; PFF & Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
    Type: Oil Industry
    Location: Zeitz, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead.
    Sortie Report⇗
    236⇗ 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
    Type: Oil Industry
    Location: Merseburg, Germany    		 Navigator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Low squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    237⇗ 9 December 1944 Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory
    Type: Aircraft Industry
    Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Low squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship (no Gee-H Navigator on today’s crew). Capt Ulrey intended to release on group lead, but his bombardier ‘picked up the target visually, and made a visual run.’
    Sortie Report⇗
    239⇗ 12 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
    Type: Oil Industry
    Location: Merseburg, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    242⇗ 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Ehrang, Germany    		 Navigator 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead. Landed away at Horham due to weather.
    Sortie Report⇗
    243⇗ 24 December 1944 Target: Airfield 6 Miles NE of Worms
    Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
    Location: Worms, Germany    		 Navigator 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Squadron deputy. PFF ship. Took off from Horham. Diverted to Sudbury on return due to inclement weather.
    Sortie Report⇗
    246⇗ 30 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Limburg, Germany    		 Navigator 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Low squadron lead. PFF& Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    1945
    Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
    265⇗ 9 February 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
    Type: Oil Industry
    Location: Lützkendorf, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Wing deputy; PFF ship. Non-384th passenger on this aircraft is listed as ‘FO [formation observer?] JOHNSTON, ARCHIE B., 1st Lt.’ He is assumed to be from Wing HQ.
    Sortie Report⇗
    266⇗ 14 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Dresden, Germany    		 Radar Navigator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Wing lead; PFF and Gee-H ship. Landed on Continent for fuel before returning to base.
    Sortie Report⇗
    268⇗ 19 February 1945 Target: Coking Plant
    Type: Industry
    Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany    		 Radar Navigator 44‑8665⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead; PFF ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    269⇗ 20 February 1945 Target: Main Railroad Station
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany    		 Radar Navigator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Low squadron lead; PFF ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    272⇗ 23 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Plauen, Germany    		 Radar Navigator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead; PFF ship. Landed away at Glatton Airfield, Station 130.
    Sortie Report⇗
    273⇗ 24 February 1945 Target: Submarine Construction Shipyard
    Type: Shipyards
    Location: Hamburg, Germany    		 Mickey (Radar) Navigator 44‑8668⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead; PFF ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    276⇗ 27 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Wahren (Leipzig area), Germany    		 Mickey (Radar) Navigator 44‑8665⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead; PFF ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    279⇗ 2 March 1945 Target: Low Temperature Carbonization Plant and Refinery of Deutsche Petroleum A.G.
    Type: Oil Industry
    Location: Rositz, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group deputy and hot camera ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    281⇗ 4 March 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
    Type: Military
    Location: Ulm, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    285⇗ 10 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Schwerte, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    High squadron lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    289⇗ 15 March 1945 Target: Army HQ
    Type: Military
    Location: Zossen, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead. PFF and Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    Flying Fotress 44-8649 BK*X Trail Blazer ; 15 Mar 45. Frederick fourth from left back row
    Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
    291⇗ 18 March 1945 Target: Schlesischer Railway Station
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Berlin, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Division lead. PFF ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    18th March 1945 Crew. From Facebook 384th Group Bill McKay “Frederick flew in 6 missions with my grandpa, William M McKay. McKay is in the front row, 2nd to the right below Frederick.”

    The target on 18th March was the SCHLESISCHER railway station in Berlin while eventually totally destroyed on this occasion the mission was ineffective.

    SCHLESISCHER railway station Berlin
    Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
    299⇗ 28 March 1945 Target: Berlin/Spandau Motor Transport Works
    Type: Industry
    Location: Spandau (Berlin), Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Lead squadron lead
    Sortie Report⇗
    28 March 1945, Berlin, Germany
    Group lead
    Back, L-to-R:
    Flight Officer Vernon M Stern, Tail Gunner/Observer;
    First Lieutenant John H Stickling, Bombardier;
    First Lieutenant Frederick A Blencowe, Mickey Navigator;
    First Lieutenant Raymond D Cook, Pilot;
    Major Phillip Y Williams, Air Commander.
    Front, L-to-R:
    Second Lieutenant John C Miller, Navigator;
    First Lieutenant William E Jelneck, Navigator;
    Technical Sergeant William H Cawthon, Radio Operator;
    Technical Sergeant Huston R Dossett, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner;
    Staff Sergeant Howard G Krupsky, Flexible Gunner.
    Raymond D Cook identified by James K. Kangas on 17 January 2016.
    Aircraft: B-17G 44-8649, “TRAIL BLAZER”
    Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
    304⇗ 5 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
    Type: Military
    Location: Ingolstadt, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    305⇗ 6 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (Visual Primary)
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Leipzig, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8789⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead. PFF ship.
    Sortie Report⇗
    315⇗ 20 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
    Type: Transportation
    Location: Seddin, Germany    		 Navigator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
    Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
  • 20 April. Last Duty Date 20 April 1945. Completed Tour, Returned to the USA
Medals

We have no medal records but he was probably entitled to these medals for his service

 

American Campaign Medal

Victory Medal WW2

European African & Middle East Campaign

Air Medal
Sources
  1. USAAF archives
  2. 384th Air Expeditionary_Group- Wikipedia
  3. 384th Bomb Group A special thank you to the wonderful work done by this website creators to faithfully record details of the air missions of WW2.
  4. YouTube video tribute to 384th Bomber Group 
  5. Ancestry Military Tree of Blencowes ww2
After the War
1950 Census
Name Fred Blencowe
Sex Male
Age 28 years
Birth Year (Estimated) 1922
Birthplace Pennsylvania
Marital Status Married
Occupation Accountant
Race White
Industry Banking
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Event Date 3 April 1950
Event Place Hempstead, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, United States
Name Dorothy Blencowe
Sex Female
Age 26 years
Birth Year (Estimated) 1924
Birthplace Alabama
Marital Status Married
Occupation Private Secretary
Race White
Industry Automotive
Relationship to Head of Household Wife
Event Date 3 April 1950
Event Place Hempstead, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, United States
After the War
1993-2007 Residence

317 Calle Corral, San Clemente California 92673-3037, USA

Gallery
Frederick flew this plane in 1945. BUCKEYE BELLE Manufacturer: Built by the Vega Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Lockheed Corporation Squadron: 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) Aircraft ID Code: BK*Y Ground Crew Chief: Stachon, John J Start Date: 19 January 1945. New Replacement AC. Missions: This aircraft was credited with 23 combat missions with the 384th. End Date: 9 May 1945. Transferred: Sent to the 305th BG.