The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. C E Blair

Charles Edward Blair, of Wallington, Surrey was born on 17th August 1908, the son of Frank Edward Blair (1870-1950) and Lizzie Louisa Blair (nee Harris 1876-1958).

He was educated at Whitgift School, Croydon and volunteered for aircrew duties on the outbreak of war. The 1939 Census records his occupation as 'Engineer (QID)'.

He was commissioned in April 1940 as a Direct Entry Air Gunner. After training he joined 600 Squadron at Manston in May 1940 and served with it throughout the Battle of Britain.

Posted to 218 Squadron in late 1940, he was killed on 25th April 1941.

His Wellington IC, R1507 HA-V, operating from Marham, was lost without trace in the North Sea while returning from a raid on Kiel.

Also lost were:

F/O GBS Agar
P/O GPL Redstone
F/Sgt. CW Andrews
F/Sgt. W Thornhill
Sgt. VE Ashworth

Blair was 33 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 31.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.

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In 2006 a plaque was unveiled at Whitgift School, Croydon, bearing the names of the eight 'old boys' who had served in the Battle of Britain