[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 143 (Tuesday, October 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN MEMORY OF COLONEL DONALD BLAKESKLEE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2009

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform the 
House of the death of Donald Blakesklee, Colonel, United States Army 
(Ret.) of Miami, Florida.
  Col. Blakesklee was born in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. During his 
teenager years, he became fond of airplanes after watching them race 
every year at the National Air Races in Cleveland. Consequently, he and 
a friend, in the mid-1930s, bought a Piper Cub.
  Prior to U.S. entrance into World War II, Col. Blakesklee's 
enthusiasm for fighting became clear when he joined the Royal Canadian 
Air Force. After pilot training, he was deployed to Britain, where he 
flew combat missions for the Royal Air Force (RAF) alongside a group of 
American volunteers known as American Eagle Squadrons. Ultimately, he 
became commander of the 133rd RAF Eagle Squadrons. When the Eagle 
Squadrons joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in September 1942, he became 
commander of the 335th Fighter Squadron. Then on January 1, 1944, Col. 
Blakesklee was named commander of the 4th Fighter Group of the 8th 
Fighter Command.
  After fours years in the European theater, Col. Blakesklee flew 
nearly 500 missions and had about 1,000 combat missions. According to 
Barrett Tillman, a former executive secretary of the American Fighter 
Aces Association, Col. Blakesklee had more missions and hours ``than 
any other American fighter pilot of World War II.'' Some of his 
achievements include leading the first escort mission to Berlin on 
March 6, 1944, in which his group protected Boeing B-17s and 
Consolidated B-24s while dropping bombs over the German city and 
setting a record for most enemies shot down in one day at 31 planes on 
April 8, 1944.
  On April 11, 1944, Col. Blakesklee was awarded the Distinguished 
Service Cross by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. For his service in the 
Korean War, he received the Legion of Merit. In all, his military 
service earned him two Distinguished Service Crosses, seven 
Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Silver Stars, six Air Medals and the 
British Distinguished Flying Cross.
  After the World War II, Col. Blakesklee remained in the Air Force. He 
led the 27th Fighter Wing in Korea and served in Vietnam. In 1965, he 
retired to Florida to live with his wife, Leola Fryer. Col. Blakesklee 
is survived by his daughter Dawn Blakesklee.
  Madam Speaker, Col. Donald Blakesklee was an honorable officer in the 
military. I am certain that the members of the House will join me in 
extending their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He 
will be greatly missed.

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