88R12798 CW-D
By: Spiller H.R. No. 527
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Thadd Harrison
Blanton is being posthumously honored with the unveiling of an
Official Texas Historical Marker on February 25, 2023, in
Gainesville; and
WHEREAS, Born in Windthorst and raised in Gainesville, Thadd
Blanton attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College before
enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940; he was commissioned as
a second lieutenant, and he served as a B-25 pilot with the 37th
Bomb Squadron at Pendleton Field in Oregon; and
WHEREAS, In early 1942, Captain Blanton volunteered for the
Doolittle Raid, a secret mission that was the first World War II
attack on the Japanese home islands; serving as copilot of Crew
No. 12 of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, he lifted off from the
USS Hornet aboard the Fickle Finger of Fate, a B-25 bomber, on April
18 of that year; his crew completed a bombing mission over Yokohama,
Japan, and then were forced to bail out over China when their
aircraft ran out of fuel; and
WHEREAS, This courageous aviator next served with the 7th
Bombardment Group and the 341st Bombardment Group in India before
flying with the 430th Bomb Squadron and then the 99th Bomb Squadron
based at Pinecastle Army Airfield in Florida; from 1946 through
1949, he was the test, executive, and operations officer with the
First Experimental Guided Missiles Group at Eglin Air Force Base in
Florida; his accomplished service was recognized with a series of
promotions, and he ultimately attained the rank of lieutenant
colonel; and
WHEREAS, Over the final years of his career, Lieutenant
Colonel Blanton held such roles as commander of the Grand Bahama
Auxiliary Air Force Base and commander of the Headquarters Squadron
Section, 13th Air Force, at Clark Air Base; in 1959 and 1960, he was
special assistant to the deputy chief of staff for operations of the
13th Air Force; his commendations included the Distinguished Flying
Cross and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A,
First Grade; he retired on November 15, 1960, and he passed away on
September 27, 1961, at the age of 42; and
WHEREAS, Demonstrating remarkable heroism, Thadd Blanton
courageously served his nation during World War II, and Americans
owe a debt to this valiant Texan that the passage of time can never
diminish; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the unveiling of an Official Texas
Historical Marker posthumously honoring U.S. Air Force Lieutenant
Colonel Thadd Harrison Blanton and extend sincere best wishes to
all those in attendance for a meaningful and memorable event; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the family of Lieutenant Colonel Blanton as an
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.