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| Sgt. Calvin Bladen was B-17 radio operator in the 493rd Bomb Group. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74046297/calvin-thomas-bladen https://galbreath.net/493rd-bomb-group/b17-flying-fortress/b-17-specifications/ |
Calvin Thomas Bladen never had a chance to reach 100 years old. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
I began this project on January 1, 2017. It will conclude on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2. During the intervening time, a different fallen serviceman was profiled every day on his 100th birthday. I have decided to round out the project by profiling one of the fallen born between December 7, 1916 and December 31, 1916. This will result in one of the fallen being profiled for every day America was engaged in World War 2. The total will be 1,366 men and women. That's enough for only 13 stars out of the 4,048 on the Freedom Wall of the World War II Memorial.
Calvin was born on December 28, 1916 in Capitol Heights, Maryland. His parents Calvin and Violet were both born in Virginia. His father worked as an auto mechanic. Calvin had two younger brothers, one of whom died as a baby. He married Dorothy Martin in August 1939. By 1940 Calvin and Dorothy were living with his parents. He had completed three years of college and was working as a clerk. A year later he graduated from Strayer Business College and worked for the Social Security Board.
After being drafted into the army, Calvin volunteered for the Army Air Forces. He became a sergeant and radio operator in the 863rd Bombardment Squadron, 493rd Bombardment Group. It arrived in Debach, England in April 1944. It was originally equipped with B-24 Liberators, but by the end of August, it had switched to B-17 Flying Fortresses.
The mission for September 12, 1944 was to bomb the ordnance factory at Magdeburg, Germany. Sgt. Bladen's bomber was shot down by German fighters. Four men survived to become POWs, but Sgt. Bladen and four others were killed.
His grave is at Cedar Hills Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland. His widow may still be alive.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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