Luther Linson Blakeney (1918 - 1943)

Born 20 Jun 1918 in Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina, United States

Died 16 Jun 1943 at age 24 in Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan, United States

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Biography

Luther Blakeney is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 100th Fighter Squadron 1942-1943
Tuskegee Airman Weather Officer

On 20 Jun 1918, Luther Linson Blakeney was born in Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina. He attended primary and secondary schooling in South Carolina. He graduated from State College at Orangeburg in 1940. From there, he entered the Army Meterology school at New York University, graduating in March of 1942. At that point, he entered the Tuskegee Army Flying School, graduating in March of 1943.

On June 16, 1943, he was in Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan^[1], continuing his training as a weather officer on a flight with 2nd Lt. Nathaniel M. Hill. Hill became lost and was unable to orient himself when he entered a rapidly forming fog over Lake Huron. ^[2] Their plane crashed into the lake two miles off shore. Both men drowned. Luther's body was recovered the next day in the early afternoon, by an Army Air Force crash boat. ^[3]

Luther had been married less than a year to Eugenia Dean, whom he married in Washington, DC in October of 1942.^[4]

Luther was buried in the Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery in Pageland, South Carolina.

Sources

1. ↑ "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF37-WSG : 13 March 2018), Luther L Blackeney, 16 Jun 1943; citing Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,755.
2. ↑ 332nd History
3. ↑ The Pittsburgh Courier, 26 Jun 1943
4. ↑ Marriage: "Washington, D.C., U.S., Marriage Records, 1810-1953"
   Marriage Records. District of Columbia Marriages. Clerk of the Superior Court, Records Office, Washington D.C
   Ancestry Record 61404 #167841 (accessed 12 November 2022)
   Luther Lenson Blakeney (24) marriage to Eugenia Feyeytre Dean on 10 Oct 1942 in District of Columbia, USA.

• 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1930; Census Place: Pageland, Chesterfield, South Carolina; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 2341926
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #95860915 (accessed 12 November 2022)
  Luther Blakeny (12), single son, in household of William M Blakeney (54) at 35, Pageland, Chesterfield, South Carolina, USA. Born in South Carolina.
• 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1940; Census Place: Pageland, Chesterfield, South Carolina; Roll: m-t0627-03799; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 13-29
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #137334039 (accessed 12 November 2022)
  Luther Blakeney (22) grandson in household of William Blakeney (65) in Pageland, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Born in South Carolina.
• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8L7-PCM : 5 December 2014), Luther L Blakeney, enlisted 09 Mar 1942, Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards for South Carolina, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 16
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #197413239 (accessed 12 November 2022)
  Name: Luther Linson Blakeney; Race: Negro (Black); Age: 22; Birth Date: 20 Jun 1918; Birth Place: Pageland, South Carolina, USA; Residence Place: Beaufort, Beaufort, South Carolina, USA; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Registration Place: Besufort, South Carolina, USA; Employer: County Board of Education; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 185; Complexion: Light Brown; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Brown; Next of Kin: (Grandfather) Mr William Colonel Blakeney;
  Household Members (Name) Age:
  Luther Linson Blakeney 22.