George Eary Blincoe [7064]

1925-2011

Father Nm:  Harold Charles/Cecil Blincoe [7550]^ born 12.2.1902 Loudoun Va died 24.10.1977 Charlottesville Va

Mother Nm:  Rena Walton Marrs [7551] born 28.3.1905 Albemarle VA died 20.7.1993 Charlottesville VA

Marriage Dt:

K comments:

Spouse comments: m Ettie Charlotte Cassell [7885] born 26.6.1922 Dungannon

(Research): Ancestry

Oldest Known Ancestor:

Children: Kelly Page Blincoe [7887] 1973 Richmond Va , Drew Andrew Blincoe [7888]1975 VA

Birth

2 July 1925 Albemarle County.

Before the War

1939 Census

WW2

 

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Blincoe George E Sergeant Tail Gunner, 33851658, Army Air Corps, 379th Bomber Group

 

1943

• 7 September. Occupation Welder and Torch cutter. George was enlisted and after basic training was transferred to the Army Air Force Corps for more training in a Flight role in the very dangerous position of Tail Gunner. He ultimately was transferred to 379th Bomber Group likely sometime in 1944.
• Note the 379th Bomber group consisted of four squadrons of B-17s, the 524th, 525th, 526th and 527th. The 379th had been formed in 1942 and in 1943 flew from Idaho to England and from May was stationed RAF Kimbolton near Huntingdon. It began flying missions almost right away tasked with bombing submarines at St Nazaire, France, on May 29, 1943.

1944-1945

• Joining the 379th Bomber group George was fortunate to be posted later into this group’s missions because in the period May 29, 1943, and March 31, 1944, it lost 80 planes in missions, this was to be more than half of all the planes it lost in the war (140).
• The 379 Th Bomber Group was equipped with The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress a four-engined heavy bomber nicknamed the “Flying Fortress” because it was heavily armed and could survive, and inflict, heavy damage.

  

  

  George we know was a tail gunner his role to protect the rear of the bomber from rear attack. A dangerous cramped position George would take up his position as the B17 approached its target area and been ready to fie the two 50 calibre guns at enemy fighters. We know that George flew 32 missions in the war below is an example found where he is mentioned as part of the crew. Crews were kept together as much as possible but substitutes were quite normal so we can have no way from knowing which crews George flew with. The B17 listed below arrived in Kimbolton from the USA in June 1944 so fits very well timing-wise with Georges likely flying time with the 379th ie Mid 1944 to end of the campaign.

• 9 September. Mission 200 to Mannheim, Germany, 9/9/44 aircraft #43-37743. To bomb the rail infrastructure at Mannheim
  The crew included George on this mission
  Foulger, Raymond C. 2nd Lt. Pilot; Sibley, Richard, C. 2nd Lt. Co-Pilot; Forsman, John S. 2nd Lt. Navigator; Dankovis, Benedict E. 2nd Lt. Bombardier; Lieberman, James J. Sgt. Radio Operator/Gunner; Hoffman, Robert, G Sgt. Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner; Iskerwood, Charles D. Sgt. Ball Turret/Gunner; Maeder, Vernon F. Sgt. Waist Gunner; Blincoe, George E. Sgt. Tail GunnerThe result of allied bombing missions like the one detailed above, Manheim and its rail infrastructure destroyed in 1944-45 campaign
• The last mission flew by 379th Bomb Group was

After the War

Death 2011

Obituary

“George E. Blincoe Sr., 85, of Charlottesville, passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2011, after an extended illness.

He was born in Albemarle County on July 2, 1925, the son of the late Harold C. and Rena M. Blincoe. He was also preceded in death by Harold E. Blincoe, his brother.

Mr. Blincoe was a member of the Hinton Avenue United Methodist Church on Charlottesville. He was a veteran of World War II in which he was a member of the Army Air Corps and flew 32 missions before returning home to Charlottesville. He worked in the laundry and dry cleaning business before joining the United States Postal Service from which he retired after over 25 years.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Charlotte C. Blincoe; one son, George E. Blincoe Jr. and his wife, Carla; two grandchildren, Kelly Blincoe of Richmond, Virginia, and Drew Blincoe of Centreville, Virginia; four brothers, Melvin and his wife, Peggy, and Paul and his wife, Betty, both of Charlottesville, Ralph and his partner, Dawn Wilson, of Sarasota, Florida, and Michael and his wife, Lottie, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; two sisters, Joanne Burruss and her husband, Lawrence, and Linda Bowen and her husband, Danny, all of Charlottesville; and numerous nieces and nephews.”

US Medals

George was entitled to these medals

 

Sources

1. US BIRL records
2. Ancestry Military Tree of Blencowes ww2
3. 379th Bomb Group

Gallery