John Ed Blackburn was born on September 12, 1918 in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas. He was the son of Walter A. Blackburn and Clara Thames Blackburn. Following his graduation at N. M. M. I., where he received his commission as second lieutenant in the cavalry, Lieut. Blackburn joined the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. He received his wings and commission in the Army Air Corps following his training at Randolph and Kelly Fields. Assigned to active duty, he was stationed in Panama for several months. For some time before joining the Amercan Volunteer Group, he was stationed in Washington where he was pilot for William Knudsen, war production chief.

John killed in action while on a check flight. His death occurred at Kunming, 200 miles southwest of Chungking, the Chinese capitol, and at the northern end of the Burma Road on April 28, 1942. He is now buried in the Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Randall County, Texas, USA. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com