Charles Francis Blair Jr. (1909 - 1978)

Born 19 Jul 1909 in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Janice Evelyn (Davis) Blair — married 6 Sep 1932 in Wallingford, Rutland, Vermont, United States

Husband of Maureen (FitzSimons) O'Hara — married 11 Mar 1968 (to 2 Sep 1978) in United States

Died 2 Sep 1978 at age 69 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

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Biography

Charles Blair Jr. is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Charles F. Blair Jr. (July 19, 1909 – September 2, 1978).

Along with his service in the Air Force, Blair was also a Naval aviator Captain, a test pilot, an airline pilot, and airline owner.

In World War II, Blair flew with the Naval Air Transport Service and was a test pilot for Grumman Aircraft. Following the war, Blair commanded the first scheduled flights of the Lockheed Constellation and Boeing Stratocruiser airliners.

In 1951, Blair flew two record-setting, non stop flights. The first on January 31st from New York to London to test the jet stream and the second on May 29th from Norway to Alaska across the North Pole. For his accomplishments, Blair was awarded the Harmon Trophy from President Truman and the Gold Medal from the Norwegian Aero Club.

Blair died in 1978, at the age of 69, when his Grumman Goose seaplane crashed into the Caribbean. He now rests in Section 2 with his wife, actress Maureen O'Hara. O'Hara was buried with him November 9, 2015.

Sources

Charles is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. His page lists his parents, siblings, spouse. There is also a photo of him. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5928/charles-francis-blair#add-to-vc

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/charles-f-blair-jr-collection-ca-1950s

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cfblair.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_F._Blair,_Jr.#Life_and_career

"Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8M2-7BT : 5 November 2017), Charles Francis Blair and Janice Evelyn Davis, 06 Sep 1932, Marriage; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 1,985,061.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M54V-3FM : accessed 19 March 2016), Charles F Blair Jr. in household of Charles F Blair, Buffalo Ward 17, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 167, sheet 1A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,959.

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ2R-K38 : accessed 19 March 2016), Chas Blair in household of Chas Blair, Buffalo Ward 20, Erie, New York, United States; citing sheet 13A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,104.

"United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7CP-R98 : accessed 19 March 2016), Charles F Blair Jr. in entry for Charles F Blair, 1930.

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K93B-Q2F : 13 March 2018), Charles F Blair, Tract AC-13, Alameda, Alameda Judicial Township, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1-28, sheet 9A, line 33, family 200, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 183.