David Valentine Jardine Blake

David Valentine Jardine Blake, born in Parramatta on November 10, 1887, (date of death unknown) was a notable Australian military figure.

Related Topics:
Parramatta - November 10 - 1887 - Australia

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Blake was commissioned as an career officer, in the Australian Army's Permanent Military Forces in January 1916, during World War One. In September that year, as a Major, he became the first commanding officer (CO) of the newly-formed No. 3 Squadron (3 Sqn) Australian Flying Corps (which was then part of the army). The squadron was deployed to Belgium and France in late 1917, performing a combined reconnaissance and offensive role.

Related Topics:
Australian Army - 1916 - World War One - Major - Australian Flying Corps - Belgium - France - 1917 - Reconnaissance

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From early 1918, 3 Sqn flew in a sector of the Somme Valley, facing German planes commanded by the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen. When the baron was shot down and killed behind Allied lines on April 21, the disposal of his remains became Blake's responsibility. Blake initially reported that a 3 Sqn RE8 may have shot down Richthofen. However, following an autopsy, Blake became a strong proponent of the — almost certainly correct — view that ground-based Australian machine-gunners had killed the baron. Blake remained 3 Sqn CO until October 1918. The following year, he was transferred to Australia.

Related Topics:
1918 - Somme - German - Manfred von Richthofen - Allied - April 21 - RE8

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After the outbreak of World War II, Blake's first significant command, as a Major General, was Officer Commanding, 7th Military District (that is, the Northern Territory), based in Darwin, from September 1941. The post gained in importance when war with Japan broke out in December. In January, Blake's position was incorporated into the short-lived American-British-Dutch-Australian Command. This made him the senior Allied officer present during the devastating air raids on Darwin, on February 19, 1942. Later that year, as a major Allied build-up in northern Australia got underway, Blake assumed the position of General Officer Commanding, Lines of Communication, Northern Territory Area.

Related Topics:
World War II - Major General - Northern Territory - Darwin - 1941 - War with Japan - American-British-Dutch-Australian Command - Allied - Air raids on Darwin - February 19 - 1942

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Blake retired from the army in 1947.

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