Wayne K. Blickenstaff

Wayne K. Blickenstaff (June 25, 1920 – December 23, 2011) was a highly decorated United States Army Air Forces lieutenant colonel. He was a flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories, including five in a single day, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II.

Early life Wayne K. Blickenstaff was born on June 25, 1920, in Pomona, California. After graduating from Pomona High School, he attended Woodbury Business College in Los Angeles, California.

World War II Blickenstaff enlisted in the Army Air Forces on January 28, 1942. He subsequently earned his flying wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Lieutenant Blickenstaff was assigned to the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force at RAF Metfield in Suffolk, England. He would fly a total of 133 combat missions during the war.

On December 1, 1943, he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over France. The squadron moved to RAF Raydon in Suffolk the following April. Blickenstaff was also promoted to captain and damaged another Bf 109 that month. He is believed to have later downed another over Germany on June 30, 1944. He was promoted to major in August.

On February 22, 1945, Major Blickenstaff claimed his fifth victory of the war. While near Berlin, his squadron encountered four Me 262 jets. Blickenstaff and his flight dropped their extra fuel tanks in an effort to gain speed and chased one jet for about seven minutes. Unable to catch the jet and nearing Soviet lines, his flight broke off the chase. While returning, Blickenstaff spotted another Me 262 flying below him. Gaining speed in a dive, he was able to score numerous hits on the jet, forcing the pilot to bail out. With this victory, Blickenstaff distinguished himself as a flying ace, and one of the few American pilots credited with a jet kill. Blickenstaff was promoted to lieutenant colonel on March 7, 1945. This was the only time in the history of Eighth Air Force when two pilots from the same unit destroyed five or more enemy aircraft in the same engagement. The squadron downed a total of 29 German aircraft, losing five of their own. Blickenstaff was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that day. These were his final victories of the war, bringing his total number to 10.

Post-war When the war ended, Blickenstaff was discharged from Army Air Forces as a lieutenant colonel. He attended the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles and became an artist/illustrator. He had three children from his first marriage and one child and three step-children from his second marriage. He retired in 1989. Wayne K. Blickenstaff died on December 23, 2011, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Summary of enemy aircraft damaged/destroyed All information on enemy aircraft damaged and destroyed is from Stars and Bars.