2nd Lt. Elliott Howard Blue (1921-1999)
(April 21, 1921 – September 9, 1999)
Elliot Howard Blue, 78, Bethlehem’s first black policeman, of Roosevelt,
N.Y., died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Mercy Medical Center, Rockville
Centre, N.Y. He was the husband of the late Audrey (Clark) Blue.
He was a special investigator for the Federal Aviation Administration at
John F. Kennedy Airport, New York City, for 20 years until retiring in
1981. After retiring, he was a proctor for special education students at
Nassau Community College, Garden City, N.Y.
He was a veteran of the Korean War and served with the Tuskegee Airmen
Squadron during World War II. He retired from the Air Force as a captain
after serving 20 years in the military.
Blue served on the Bethlehem police force from 1951 until re-enlisting in
the Air Force in 1952.
Born in Hampton, Va., he was a son of the late Allie and Virginia
(Carter) Blue.
In addition to being a DOTA, Elliot Blue served in the Bethlehem Police
Force and spent his final days in the area. His grandson, Ryan, reported
that Elliott was the first Black police chief in Bethlehem, PA. His name
is listed in the Black Knight’s book as a pilot. His name was submitted
by his grandson, Ryan Blue, who works at Boeing.
Blue graduated from advanced flight training at Tuskegee Army Air
Field in class 44-A (twin engine) on 7 Jan 1944.
As a twin-engine pilot, he probably completed his advanced flight
training in an A-10 airplane and then went to Mather Field, CA, for
training in B-25s before being assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group.
In training he would have flown the PT-17 or PT-19 for primary flight
training, the BT-13 for basic flight training, the AT-10 for advanced
flight training, the B-25 for transition training, and the B-25 with
the 477th Bombardment Group. Since he flew many different kinds of
aircraft in training, he would have flown aircraft with many different
serial numbers. Even after being assigned to the 477th Bombardment
Group, the B-25 he flew might not have always been the same aircraft.
The 477th Bombardment Group did not deploy overseas or take part in
combat during World War II.
Captain James Edward Murrell was born on November 17, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York.
His parents were Jacob and Ollie Thornhill Murrell. He was reared in Camden, New Jersey and attended the Camden Public Schools graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School.
He met and married Lena Banks and reared 9 children.
He was inducted into the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey on August 12, 1941. Two weeks later he was sent to basic training in Augusta, Georgia and then to Oscoda, Michigan.
On July 3, 1942, he was sent to the Army Flying School in Tuskegee, Alabama where he served in several support positions in the 96th Maintenance Group.
In 1944, his unit was shipped out with the air men from Newport News, VA to Italy.
He arrived as a Private 1st class and left a year and a half later as a Master Sgt. Within this time frame, he was promoted five times.
While in Italy, his unit witnessed the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
He returned from Italy and was discharged from the Army Airforce on November 4, 1945.
He later joined the Army Reserves and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1949.
He was promoted to Captain before he retired.
James E. Murrell worked for over 25 years at Campbell Soup company as a Time Study Analyst. In the early 1960’s, while working at Campbell Soup, he was named Deputy Director of the Civil Defense educating the community on building fallout shelters in case of nuclear fallout.
After becoming ill, he retired from Campbell Soup Company and later died on January 13, 1980. He leaves a legacy of determination and achievement that exemplifies how one individual’s passion and dedication can create a lasting impact on his family, church and country.
