Everett Ernest Blakely

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Lt. Col. Everett Ernest Blakely
Born	July 1, 1919 Elgin, Illinois, United States
Died	September 21, 2004
Resting place	Old Mission Cemetery, San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Education	University of Washington (BA) University of Notre Dame (MA)
Spouse	Margaret Ann Blakely
Children	Six

Everett Ernest Blakely (July 1, 1919 – September 21, 2004) was a career officer of the United States Air Force. He was a highly decorated B-17 pilot with the "Bloody Hundredth" Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force in Europe during World War II. He received eleven medals for his service, including the Silver Star for "gallantry in action," the Distinguished Flying Cross for "heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight," and the Air Medal. Blakely and the crew of his plane, "Just A Snappin," long held the record for the most enemy aircraft shot down during a single mission, where the crew of "Just A Snappin" was credited with shooting down 9 enemy aircraft.^[1][2] He also received his Pilot Wings with 3 stars from the Colombian Air Force.^[3]

The Apple TV+ mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, called "Masters of the Air," retells the story of the 100th Bomb Group, with actor David Shields playing the role of Blakely. The series is based on several books, including "Masters of the Air"^[4] by Donald L. Miller, as well as "Wing and a Prayer"^[5] by Harry H. Crosby.

Blakely was born on July 1, 1919, to Everett Palmer Blakely and Gottleiben "Libby" Shellenberger in his family home in Elgin, Illinois. Blakely had one brother, Robert Blakely, who served with distinction as an infantry officer and helicopter pilot in the United States Army until he retired with the rank of major.^{[citation needed]}

Blakely and his brother were raised in Seattle, Washington, by their stepmother, Gwendolyn Matthews. Blakely's father worked at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle. Everett attended Lincoln High School and later graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1938. After high school graduation, Blakely attended the University of Washington where he majored in Latin American Studies and served in the Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTP).^{[citation needed]}

Blakely was a graduate of the University of Washington and, from 1942 until 1969, served as an officer in the United States Air Force. Blakely was one of the original B-17 pilots of the 418th Bombardment Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group.^[6][7] The 100th Bomb Group became known as the "Bloody 100th" ^[8] because of the many losses they suffered during the beginning of the allied bombing campaign in Europe.^[7] He served not only as a Command Pilot but was also the group commander of the 418th Bombardment Squadron and Station Training Officer^[9] stationed at Thorpe Abbots Air Field in England.^[5]

In August 1941, before graduating from the University of Washington, Blakely enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force.^{[citation needed]}

His first assignment was at Hancock Field in Santa Maria, California, where he was stationed from August 22, 1941, to November 1, 1941. It was at Hancock Field that he learned to fly using the Stearman PT13 biplane.^[10]

Blakely began his next assignment on November 4, 1941 at Moffett Field near San Francisco, California.^{[citation needed]}

The Attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent entry of the United States into World War II happened one month later, on December 7, 1941. Blakely continued his flight training on a Vultee BT-13 Valiant (Vibrator), concluding this assignment at Moffet Field on January 17, 1942.^{[citation needed]}

Told he would fly fighters, cadet Blakely transferred to Luke Field, Arizona, where he received advanced fighter training on a North American T-6 Texan. No longer a cadet, he graduated earning his pilot wings, and he was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.^{[citation needed]}

On March 16, 1942, Blakely was transferred to the 3rd Air Force stationed at Dale Mabry Field in Tallahassee, Florida where he continued his fighter flight training, flying the Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-36 Hawk, and the Republic P-43 Lancer.^{[citation needed]}

About 3 months later, he was assigned to the 79th Fighter Group at Morris Field in Charlotte, North Carolina where he continued to hone his flying skills, flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.^[10]

Blakely's goal of becoming a fighter pilot changed on May 31, 1942, when he was assigned to the 3rd Bomber Command at MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida and began training in and flying the B-17.^{[citation needed]}

As his skills continued to develop, Blakely was transferred to the 29th Bomber Group at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, on August 20, 1942, and later that month to the 330th Bomber Group at Briggs Field in El Paso, Texas where he was assigned to the 459th Bomber Squadron where he began training with his first crew. His crew would change slightly at several points throughout the war.^{[citation needed]}

More training continued with the 333rd Bombardment Group at the Army Air Base in Topeka, Kansas, followed up with the 96th Bomber Group in Rapid City, South Dakota.^{[citation needed]}

Blakely finally connected with the 100th Bomb Group on October 28, 1942, officially assigned at Walla Walla Army Air Base in Washington. Blakely spent the rest of World War II working with the 100th Bomb Group. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on November 11, 1942. In his "Second Phase" of training at Walla Walla Army Air Base, formation flying and aerial gunnery were emphasized.^{[citation needed]}

In December 1942, Blakely was briefly assigned to Wendover Air Force Base in Utah for operational training with the 100th Bomb Group.^{[citation needed]}

In January 1943, Blakely continued training with the 100th Bomb Group at Sioux City Army Air Base in Sioux City, Iowa. While stationed there, Everett attended a local dance where he met Margaret Ann Spence. They married about two months later while he was stationed at Boise Airport in Boise, Idaho. They were married until Everett's passing on September 21, 2004.^{[citation needed]}

Training was completed on May 20, 1943, after flying the B-17 once more in at Wendover Field, along with subsequent brief stints at Hamilton Field in California, and an airfield in Kearney, Nebraska.^{[citation needed]}

On May 25, 1943, Everett and some of his crew flew their B-17 to Thorpe Abbot airfield in England. Their route took them first to Dow Field in Bangor, Maine, then north across the Gulf of St Lawrence to Labrador City, Canada and on to Prestwick, Scotland before arriving in England. His ground crew travelled to England via the Cunard White Starliner Queen Elizabeth.^{[citation needed]}

In early June 1943, Blakely arrived in Thorpe Abbots, England. The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) had been created on June 20, 1939, and the first B-17E arrived in High Wycombe, England under the Command of General Ira C. Eaker on May 12, 1942. The first mission of the USAAF was on August 17, 1942, against the railroad yards in Rouen-Sotteville, France.

Blakely served in the 418th Bomber Squadron of the 100th Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force in Europe. He was stationed in England at Thorpe Abbots Airfield. Thorpe Abbots was Station #139 which was in operation from June 1942 to 1944 with its primary function as a base for the B-17.

Over the years, two B-17s were assigned to Blakely and his crew. The first B-17F, assigned in 1942, was plane #42-30061, named "Just A Snappin'". In August 1943, this plane was later assigned to the Robert Wolff crew and became known as "Wolff Pack". Because Blakely piloted the lead crew he received a newer B-17F #42-23393. This plane retained the name "Just A Snappin'". Blakely's plane was also sometimes referred to as "The Provisional Group".

According to Harry Crosby's book "A Wing and a Prayer," on the mission to Saint Nazaire in Northwestern France, Blakely's plane limped back to Thorpe Abbot,

"We kid Blakely about flying alone. We call him 'The Provisional Group,' an outfit that comes to the base to replace missing crews. He responds, 'We were behind you, just a-snappin' at your heels'. that's where he got the name for his plane."

Blakely was an original pilot assigned to the 418th Bomber Squadron. He had a humble demeanor and was well respected by everyone in the 100th Bomb Group. From William R. Fogle's Journal - 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation (100thbg.com)^[11]

"Captain Blakely, one of our best-liked and most able pilots, brought his Ship 393 back from Germany on two engines, crash-landing in or near Norwich. One of the waist gunners, Saunders, got a belly full of lead and lived for a while, but finally died. Later, Captain Blakely was made the new CO. Everyone will like that, I'm sure."

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The record of missions in which Blakely took part remains incomplete. As a member of the original crews stationed at Thorpe Abbotts, he frequently served as the lead pilot of his bomb group. Following the Bremen mission of 8 October 1943, his aircraft was destroyed. He was subsequently promoted to squadron commander of the 418th Squadron, after which he undertook numerous missions in the capacity of Command Pilot. In the latter part of 1944, he assumed the position of Training Officer at the base.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 67 marked the first operation of the 100th Bomb Group, targeting Bremen, Germany, on 25 June 1943. During this mission, Blakely’s aircraft sustained severe damage, though he managed to return it to base. The unit suffered the loss of three aircraft in its inaugural operation.^[5]

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 69 constituted the second operation for Blakely and the 100th Bomb Group, carried out on 28 June 1943 against targets at Saint-Nazaire. The objectives included the submarine pens at Saint-Nazaire and a German fighter installation at Beaumont-le-Roger. The 100th Bomb Group took part in the attack on Saint-Nazaire, encountering heavy anti-aircraft fire but no fighter opposition, with cover provided by RAF Spitfires and USAAF Thunderbolts. Blakely’s aircraft lost two engines during the mission but successfully returned to base. Out of the 191 aircraft dispatched, eight were lost.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 71 represented the fourth operation for the 100th Bomb Group and the third mission flown by Blakely, targeting the submarine pens at La Pallice, France, on 4 July 1943. A total of 71 B-17 aircraft struck the primary target, resulting in the loss of one B-17 from the 100th Bomb Group, while another aircraft sustained damage. Secondary objectives included aircraft factories at Le Mans and Nantes, with reports indicating a high degree of bombing accuracy. The mission lasted 10 hours and 45 minutes.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 72, flown on 10 July 1943, was Blakely’s fourth mission and targeted Le Bourget Airfield near Paris. Flying aircraft #230061, Just A Snappin, the 100th Bomb Group participated in an operation involving 101 B-17s. The group was credited with destroying four enemy aircraft while sustaining the loss of one B-17. Adverse weather over the target prevented any bombs from being dropped.^[12]

The last week of July 1943 became known as Blitz Week. A period of USAAF aerial bombardment during the 1943 Combined Bomber Offensive of World War II where air raids were conducted on six of seven days as part of Operation Gomorrah.

VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 75: -- On July 24, 1943, the 8th Bomber Command sent heavy bombers against multiple targets in Norway, the 100th Bomb Group being directed to bomb sub pens in Trondheim. Harry Crosby joined the Blakely crew as Navigator on this mission. This was a 1,900-mile mission and the longest to date, requiring over 12 hours in the air. When flying over water, the B-17s flew at low altitude to conserve oxygen. The 100th BG had no losses for this mission and were credited with two enemy fighters destroyed while achieving good results from their bombing. Everett Blakely received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 76, conducted on 25 July 1943 as part of the second operation of Blitz Week, involved the 100th Bomb Group flying to Warnemünde and Kiel, Germany. The group formed part of a larger force of 141 B-17s. The intended targets included the Heinkel aircraft factory at Warnemünde and the shipyards and U-boat base at Kiel. Due to heavy cloud cover over Warnemünde, bombing was redirected to the Kiel dockyards. The 100th Bomb Group lost one aircraft with a crew of ten during the mission. Bergen was also designated as a target but remained obscured by clouds, and USAAF policy at the time prohibited indiscriminate bombing.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 81, conducted on 12 August 1943, involved the 100th Bomb Group targeting Wesseling and its synthetic oil production facility. Due to fog obscuring the primary, secondary, and tertiary targets, the Bonn railroad yard was selected as a target of opportunity. Everett Blakely flew Just A Snappin with Harry Crosby serving as lead navigator.

“By chance, the night before the mission, after receiving a pre-briefing, I returned to my quarters and was listening to records on what was called a gramophone in England. I had the complete Third Symphony (Eroica) and the complete Fifth Symphony. As the records played, I idly read the inscription inside the album cover and noticed, without giving it much thought, that Beethoven had been born in Bonn and had attended school there.

The following day, at 25,000 feet, as we began our run over Bonn, I looked down and saw a cluster of buildings I assumed to be the University of Bonn. In that instant, the thought struck me: ‘That must be where Beethoven went to school!’”

I grabbed Douglass by the shoulder and said we would not go to Bonn. Over the intercom someone asked me why not and, after giving the pilot a new heading, I explained that this was where Beethoven went to school.

In those tense moments for some reason nobody objected, and we made a run on a marshaling yard in Cologne which was listed as a target of opportunity. We were the lead ship in the whole Eighth Air Force that day and therefore the entire formation followed us"^[5]

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 84, flown on 17 August 1943, became one of the most renowned air battles of World War II for “The Bloody 100th.” The 100th Bomb Group participated in a historic two-pronged attack on Schweinfurt and Regensburg, marking the deepest penetration into Germany at that time. Captain Blakely, piloting Just A Snappin, served as the lead pilot for the 100th Bomb Group on this mission.^[13]

The 8th Air Force deployed 146 B-17s to Regensburg, of which 21 were from the 100th Bomb Group. Fourteen aircraft from the group successfully reached the target. The mission resulted in the loss of nine aircraft from the 100th, with 17 men killed, 59 taken prisoner, and 10 airmen interned in Switzerland. In total, the Americans faced over 300 Luftwaffe fighters, which downed 24 bombers and caused casualties exceeding 200 men.^[13]

Captain Blakely’s formation successfully attacked a Messerschmitt aircraft factory in Regensburg, damaging all critical buildings in the complex. After completing the strike, his group continued over the Alps to Algeria. Colonel Curtis LeMay led the overall Regensburg mission. Blakely flew a new B-17F, #23393, retaining the name Just A Snappin. For its performance on this operation, the 100th Bomb Group received its first Presidential Unit Citation. The mission lasted over 11 hours, and on 29 September 1943, Captain Blakely was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by Curtis LeMay for his valor..^[13]

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 88 – On 31 August 1943, during the return from Algeria, the 100th Bomb Group, led by Captain Blakely, flew to Thorpe Abbotts and conducted an attack on an airfield at Bordeaux-Mérignac en route. No aircraft from the 100th Bomb Group were lost during this mission.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 91 – On 6 September 1943, the 8th Air Force set a record for the number of heavy bombers dispatched in an operation targeting Stuttgart. Objectives included the Daimler and Porsche factories, an airfield at Conches, the SKF ball bearing factory, and a Bosch factory responsible for producing 90% of German magnetos. Due to extensive cloud cover, bombers were required to circle the city three times before releasing their ordnance. The 100th Bomb Group lost three aircraft but succeeded in destroying nine enemy fighters.

VIII Bomber Command Missions Nos. 93 and 94 – On 9 September 1943, as a preparatory action for the forthcoming D-Day invasion, the 8th Air Force conducted Operation Starkey, targeting multiple sites in France. The Luftwaffe’s defensive response was weaker than anticipated, limiting the destruction of enemy fighters. Of the 63 B-17s dispatched to Beauvais/Tillé Airfields, six sustained damage, and all designated targets were successfully engaged. The mission was supported by P-47 fighter escorts.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 95 – On 15 September 1943, the 100th Bomb Group targeted a Messerschmitt 109 reconditioning plant, a Renault motor works, and a ball bearing factory near Paris, with a total flight time of approximately five hours. The group lost one aircraft and was credited with the destruction of five enemy aircraft.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 97 – On 16 September 1943, Captain Everett Blakely flew as lead pilot of the 100th Bomb Group in Just A Snappin, undertaking a mission to bomb a U-boat base in France.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 100 – On 23 September 1943, Major Flesher, serving as Group Air Executive, accompanied Captain Blakely on a mission to Vannes, targeting the port facilities. No aircraft from the 100th Bomb Group were lost during this operation.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 104 – On 27 September 1943, the 100th Bomb Group participated in a six-hour mission against the port area of Emden. This operation marked the first use of Pathfinder aircraft equipped with H2S radar, taking advantage of the contrast between land and water to improve bombing accuracy. A total of 308 B-17s were deployed. The division lost seven aircraft, while the 100th Bomb Group sustained no losses.

VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 106 – On 2 October 1943, the 100th Bomb Group returned to Emden. A total of 340 heavy bombers were dispatched on this mission, resulting in seven losses; the 100th Bomb Group, however, did not lose any aircraft.

The period from 8 to 13 October 1943 became known as Black Week, during which the U.S. Air Force suffered greater losses than in any other week up to that point in its history.

VIII Bomber Command Mission 111: -- The primary target of the 100th BG on October 8, 1943, was the town of Bremen. This was Blakely's 18th mission. This was the first mission in which strips of aluminum were dropped to jam German radar (what became known as "Chaff" or "Window"). Seven aircraft of the 100th Bomb Group were lost during the mission. For the entire 8th AF, 399 planes were launched with 357 making the attack and 30 losses. On this day, the crew of Just A Snappin was credited with shooting down nine Nazi fighters - still a record today for a single plane on a single mission during this war. The bomber lost two engines, causing it to lose altitude and nearly requiring her to ditch in the North Sea. Staff Sergeant Lester Saunders, a gunner, was killed in action on this mission. 22 planes from the 100th Bomb Group flew this mission. Just A Snappin was heavily damaged, and crash landed at an unused RAF base in England. Five crew members were injured and received purple hearts. The salvage crew counted over 800 holes in the B-17 from flak, machine gun bullets and 20 mm cannon shells. Everett Blakely received his nation's 3rd highest medal for gallantry, the Silver Star for his bravery that day.

Blakely's crew on this fateful mission:

Major John Kidd- Command Pilot 1st Lt. Everett Blakely-Pilot

2nd Lt. Charles Via – Formation Officer in the tail (SWA on this mission)

1st Lt. Harry Crosby – Navigator

2nd Lt. James Douglas – Bombardier

T/Sgt. Edmund Forkner -Radio Operator

S/Sgt. William McClelland – Ball Turret Gunner (Wounded in Action on this mission)

S/Sgt Edward Yevich – Waist Gunner (Wounded in Action on this mission)

S/Sgt Lyle Nord – Waist Gunner

S/Sgt. Lester Saunders – Tail Gunner (Killed in Action on this mission)

Following the harrowing mission to Bremen, Blakely was promoted to Major and became the 418th Bomber Squadron Commander from October 1943 to April 18, 1944. Later in 1944, Major Blakely became the Group Training Officer.^[9] He returned to the States, and began preparing to fight against Japan.

World War II ended in Europe on May 7, 1945, with the end of war in Japan following on September 2, 1945.

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After the war, Blakely was sent to Williams Air Force Base in Tempe Arizona where he became the Director of the Post Mechanics School.^[14]

The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (G.I. Bill) program was used by Blakely to finish up his education at the University of Washington where he earned a degree in Latin American Studies.

After graduation in 1948, Blakely attended the Army Language School in Monterey, California where he became fluent in Spanish language.

Putting his Spanish to good use, he and his family were stationed in Cali, Colombia where he served as an advisor to the Colombian Air Force. He was honored by the Colombian Air Force with the receipt of Colombian Pilot Wings. Blakely served in Colombia from 1949 to 1952.

Blakely's next assignment was as Group Commander of Training at Norton Air Force Base near San Bernardino, California.  From 1953 to 1954, Blakely served as Acting Base Commander.

Blakely was then stationed at Warner Robins Air Force Base near Macon, Georgia from 1954 to 1957 in the capacity of Director of the Plans and Programs Division.

After this stateside assignment, Blakely was transferred overseas to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines where  he served as the Director of the Communication Engineering Division from 1957 to 1960.^[14]

Stateside once again, United States Lt. Colonel Blakely became the Air Force ROTC Director at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana from 1960 to 1965. While at Notre Dame, he earned his master's degree in Guidance and Counseling.

Next Blakely was assigned the task of cleaning up and closing down Toul Rosieres Air Base near Nancy, France. Charles de Gaulle, who was the French President at that time, ordered all non-French military installations to be removed from France, while remaining a member of NATO.  After closing down the facility, Blakely was reassigned as Assistant Director for Materiel of the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Ramstein Air Force Base near Kaiserslautern, Germany.^[14]

After 27 years serving as an officer in the United States Air Force, Blakely retired from his military career, returning to California where he worked at Lockheed Air in Burbank, California.  Retiring from Lockheed in the late 1980s, he and his wife, Margaret moved to San Luis Obispo, California in 1989. 

Blakely died on September 21, 2004, at the age of 85 and is buried in the Old Mission Catholic Cemetery in San Luis Obispo.^[15]

Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation American Defense Service Medal , American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Medal