Charles Everett Blades was born on May 11, 1920, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Charles Ashton Blades and Lucy Adeline Bethel Blades. He was married to Eileen Odessa "Tena" Watt Goodwin. He attended Hyde Park High School. He was assigned to the 584th Bomb Squadron of the 394th Bomb Group (Medium) in the 9th Air Force of the USAAF, which flew B-26 Marauders over Europe. They were stationed in England, with the 585th Bombardment Squadron of the 394th Bombardment Group, first based at RAF Boreham (USAAF Station AAF-161).

On July 18, 1944, the mission in which Charles took part targeted the Demouville Defended Area just east of Caen, France. It was regarded as one of the most significant bombing operations of the war, conducted in support of Field Marshal Montgomery, whose forces were stalled and unable to advance. In a full-scale effort, all 9th Air Force Bomb Groups were deployed to strike the target.

SSgt Blades was Killed in Action on that mission and is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, http://wartimeheritage.com