BLUM, William George Papers (1976)

.65 cu ft

Call Nos. 168.7063

IRIS Nos. 1011603

(1919-1972). William Blum was born in Dansville, New York on 26 October 1919 and became a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1941 until he retired in January of 1966 where he achieved the rank of Colonel. He was an aviation cadet from 1941 through 1942 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May of 1942. He was called to active duty and began overseas duty in 1943. Colonel Blum flew B-24 aircraft and was shot down in September 1944 near North Mannheim, Germany. He was captured and became a World War II prisoner of war in Stalag Luft I until his release in May of 1945. He was relieved from active duty in 1946 and retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1966. Colonel Blum died on 13 June in 1972 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

This personal paper relates largely to Blum's World War II service. It is the privately published memoirs relating to the World War II experiences by Colonel Blum. The manuscript written by Blum is titled, Journey To A Star. Biography is added by Wilfred J. Rauber, Historian, town of North Dansville in New York.