1lt HAROLD ERNEST GOETTLER (Pilot)
&
2lt ERWIN R. BLECKLEY (AO)
130th Field Artillery, 50th Aero Squadron
Over Binarville, France
6 October 1918
1st Lt. Harold E. Goettler and his Areal Observer, 2d Lt. Bleckley took off late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest.
Their first attempt was unsuccessful because of heavy enemy resistance and not knowing exactly where the American Battalion was located.
The two Aviators decided the only way to deliver supplies would be to fly insanely low and slow.
They managed to deliver supplies to our guys but had to fly so low and so slow that the enemy was able to bring the aircraft down with small arms fire.
2nd Lt. Bleckley, died at his post before he could be taken to a hospital. 1Lt Goettler succumbed to his wounds at the aid station.
The cut off battalion survived because of the supplies these two men gave their lives to deliver.
Warrior's Daily Inspiration Calendar 