Lieutenant Thadd H. Blanton
- First name: | Thadisson |
- Middle name: | Harrison |
- Last name: | Blanton |
- Nickname: | Thadd |
- Rank Doolittle raid: | Lieutenant |
- Last rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
- Service number: | 0-421030 |
- Date of birth: | 25 February 1919 |
- Place of birth: | Archer City, Texas |
- Date of death: | 27 September 1961 |
- Place of death: | Orlando, Florida |
- Place of the cemetery: | Gainesville, Texas |
- Name of the cemetery: | Fairview Cemetery |
Additional info
Roderick Wayne "Pokie" Blanton and Millie Elizabeth Harrison Russell were the parents of Thadios Harrison Blanton. He was born on 25 February 1919 in Archer City, Texas.
He lived in Justice Precinct 8, Cooke, Texas in 1930 and Eglin Air Force Base, Okaloosa, Florida in 1950.
Thadd registered for military service in 1940.
During world war 2 he took part in the Doolittle raid and later during the war he escaped from enemy territory after plane crash in Burma during 1943.
On the flight to China after bombing Japan, the crew spotted a Japanese weather boat. His crew strafed the vessel with the plane’s .50-caliber machine guns, sinking it. Unfortunately, the long flight and bad weather made for disastrous delays, forcing 11 of the 16 raiding crews to bail out, including Blanton'’s. The others crash-landed or ditched in the water, and nearly a dozen men were killed or captured.
Blanton was one of 64 raiders who found safe haven—thanks to a little luck, a lot of stamina and the help of the Chinese. For his part in the most famous air raid in WWII history,
He retired from the army for physical disability on 15 November 1960 . He died in the hospital on the Air Force base on 27 September 1961, in Orlando Florida. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville, Texas. He had been in declining health for several years.
His mother attended his funeral. The stepfather, J. M. Russell of Gainesville attended the funeral too.
Thadios Harrison Blanton, nickname Thadd was inducted in the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame on 9 November 2001.
A historical marker was unveiled in honor of Thadd H. Blanton, an airman from Gainesville who participated in the legendary "Doolittle" air raid over Japan in April 1942.
The marker was placed in Fairview Cemetery near the place where Blanton is buried. The ceremony corresponded with his birthday. The Sea Cadets Red River Battalion acted as the honor guard and family members of Blanton were in attendance.
Sarah Helen Weed Blanton
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The Doolittle raiders, their planes
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