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Major Blakey was commanding officer of the 305th Airdrome Squadron near Aitape, New Guinea, when he was last seen driving a jeep on June 10, 1944, near the unit's POW stockade. When he failed to return to his quarters the following day, the squadron reported him missing and launched a massive search effort. The area surrounding Aitape was reported to be under Japanese control. Four days after his disappearance, an Australian soldier found Blakey's jeep south of Aitape. Following the discovery of the Jeep the area was again searched, but the missing officer was not found. Blakey was presumed dead Jan. 22, 1946. In April 1989 the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, was notified that a district officer in Aitape Sanaun province was in possession of remains believed to be those of an American Serviceman. In July 1989 a recovery team from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii (CILHI) traveled to New Guinea and questioned the individual in possession of the remains. In addition to the remains, the team recovered personal effects including two identification tags and a bracelet engraved "Frank H. Blakey." The team visited the location where the remains were found, but recovered no additional personal effects or remains.
305th Airdrome Squadron Memorial
Organized at Dalhart Army Air Base April 1943
Inscription
Memorial
to
The 305th Airdrome Squadron
Organized at Dalhart Army Air Base April 1943
Dedicated To
Our First Commander
Major Frank H. Blakey
Killed in New Guinea June 1944
And To
Our Last Commander
1st Lt. Joel D. Burt
World War II Service
Dalhart • New Guinea
Leyte Philippine Islands • Okinawa
Irumagawa Japan