Blount, Thomas F.

Description

Thomas E Blount was born in New York in 1917. The census records show his families Home in 1940: Annapolis, Maryland. Thomas was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1936. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Lieutenant Thomas E. Blount was a navy pilot and graduate of the United States Naval Acadamey. He was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier U. S. S. Bennington and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Awarded for actions during the World War II

“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Thomas E. Blount NSN: 0-100359 , United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against units of the Japanese Fleet on 24 July 1945 at the Kobe Naval Base and Osaka, Honshu, Japan. Leading a flight of four carrier-based fighter planes through adverse weather conditions to the target, where the weather was found to be suitable for photography, he made repeated photo-runs in spite of very intense and accurate, heavy anti-aircraft fire which hit and damaged one of the planes. On retirement, he made an effective strafing attack on a 4,000-ton freighter-transport. The photos taken were exceptional and contributed materially to operations against the enemy. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.“

General Orders: Commander 3d Carrier Division: Serial 0712 October 27, 1945
Action Date: July 24, 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U. S. S. Bennington CV-20

Rye High School Graduate, class of 1936, Thomas woiuld rise to be a Commander in the U.S. Navy. He died October 8, 1995 at age 77 and is buried at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis , MD.

Name: Thomas Edward Blount [Thomas E Blount]
Gender: Male Race: White
Birth Date: 9 Nov 1917
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois
Death Date: 8 Oct 1995
Father: Percy T Blount
Mother: Elizabeth Schmiers
SSN: 578444194