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2LT Blaine Manahan, 23, of Cherry, was killed in action April 10, 1944, while on a mission in France. He entered service with the Army Air Corps on February 6, 1943, and was sent overseas in March of 1944. Blaine got married shortly before he left for England, and his wife gave birth to a daughter whom he never met. He saw engagements at Reims, France, serving with the Eighth Air Force. He was decorated with the Purple Heart with Oak Cluster, World War II Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the American Campaign Medal after serving for 14 months. On the morning of his death, Blaine was co-piloting “Lucky Strike” with the 334th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, when the right wing became engulfed in fire. Following an explosion in the wing, the aircraft went into a shallow spin, and after a second explosion, disintegrated. Six of the ten airmen aboard were able to escape the aircraft–four were captured by enemy forces becoming POW and two airmen evaded capture. Manahan and three other airmen were killed in action. He is buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial Lorraine, France.
Born: October 3, 1920
Killed in Action: April 10, 1944
Other Information:
334th Bomb Squadron
95th Bomb Group (H)
8th United States AAF
Position: Co-Pilot
Missions: 3
Status: KIA on 4/10/1944 on Mission to Beaumont-sur-Oise in Aircraft B-17G 4231258 Lucky Strike
At 0920, near Chateau Thierry, and with the right wing on fire, the aircraft had an explosion in the wing, went into a shallow spin, and after a second explosion, disintegrated. 6 airmen were able to escape the aircraft, 4 were captured by enemy forces, and became prisoners of war (POW). 2 airmen evaded capture. 4 airmen, including co-pilot Lt. Manahan, were KIA.
Blaine is buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Lorraine, France.
According to a personal interview with Byron Waite (nephew of Walter Waite) on September 10, 2025, the residents of Cherry fondly remember that Manahan buzzed his hometown of Cherry as he piloted his plane to Nebraska one day.
Blaine had one younger brother, Robert Manahan.
Blaine married Dorothy Mae Bird in 1942 shortly before he left for England. Dorothy gave birth to a daughter named Sandy, but Blaine never got the chance to meet her. In later years, Dorothy remarried and her new husband adopted Sandy.
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