Erwin Russell Bleckley

Serving as an airman in the U.S. Army Air Service, Second Lieutenant Erwin Russell Bleckley was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on October 6, 1918 near Binarville, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 50th Aero Squadron, 130th Field Artillery, Air Service. Bleckley was 23 years old.

Bleckley was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 4, 1923, 4 years after the action.

Bleckley was born on December 30, 1894 in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. He is buried at Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in Romagne Meuse, France. His medal is held by National Museum of the US Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Bleckley is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 31 credited to Kansas.

★ Aviators & Aircrew ★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

Second Lt. Bleckley, with his pilot, 1st Lt. Harold E. Goettler, Air Service, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division, which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of his mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machine-gun fire from the ground, resulting in fatal wounds to 2d Lt. Bleckley, who died before he could be taken to a hospital. In attempting and performing this mission 2d Lt. Bleckley showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage, and valor.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

What the citation records about his wounds:

In the course of his mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machine-gun fire from the ground, resulting in fatal wounds to 2d Lt. Bleckley, who died before he could be taken to a hospital.

Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (October 6, 1918).
Age at death: 23
Resting place: Meuse-Argonne Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

Born: Wichita — map
Died: Marne — map
Buried: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Kansas →

Timeline

December 30, 1894
Born in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas
October 6, 1918
Act of valor — near Binarville, France
Age 23. 50th Aero Squadron, 130th Field Artillery, Air Service Killed in action.
March 4, 1923
Medal of Honor presented posthumously
Resting place
Meuse-Argonne Cemetery
Romagne Meuse

Biography

Erwin Russell Bleckley (December 30, 1894 – October 6, 1918) was a United States Army aviator during World War I, and posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, killed in action on October 6, 1918, near the "lost battalion". Bleckley entered service as a member of the Kansas National Guard, was commissioned as an artillery officer, then volunteered for aviation training and duty. His was one of the four Medals of Honor awarded to members of the Air Service in World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Erwin R. Bleckley”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on October 6, 1918

Harold Ernest Goettler First Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ AP Archie A. Peck Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Kansas

GR George Seanor Robb First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.