The President of the United States
in the name of
The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*BLECKLEY, ERWIN R.
(Air Mission)
Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Air Corps, 130th Field Artillery, observer 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and
Date: Near Binarville, France, 6 October 1918. Entered Service At: Wichita,
Kans. Birth: Wichita, Kans. G. O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922.
Citation:
2d 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 machinegun 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.
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