John K. Blythe

John volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps in June 1941. He entered service at Marshall Field, Fort Riley, Kan., in January 1942 as an aviation cadet. His aviation training was completed at Luke Field, Arizona, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant.
He flew lend-lease Spitfires in the European Theater. His tour of duty was 21 months with 187 missions flown in England, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Corsica. His missions included fighter sweeps, troop support, bomber escort and dive-bombing.
He returned from overseas duty on June 18, 1944, and married Della Wray Smith at the Blythe home near White City, Kan., June 25, 1944.
He continued stateside duty as a fighter pilot instructor in Ephrata, Wash., and Santa Maria, Calif., before he separated from active military service as a major in 1946. He was honorably discharged from military service in April 1952.
He was always proud of his military service to his country.