2Lt. Blake served in the 702nd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomb Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force. Service #O-828371. Died in service October 18, 1944.

From the American Air Museum: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/183614
On 18 October 1944 B-24 Liberator serial number 42•50347 was flying from Greencastle, Ireland to Tibenham on a familiarisation flight over Britain. Onboard were 24 replacement crewmen who had been sent to the 445th Bomb Group after the unit had suffered heavy losses on the Kassel mission in September that year. During the flight the B-24 broke up in mid-air over Birkenhead and all 24 men on board were killed when it crashed near Landican. The cause of the accident was never officially determined, though a fuel leak was cited as a possible factor.

From Wreck Site UK at http://wrecksiteuk.blogspot.com/2012/02/b-24-42-50347-landicanbirkenhead.html?m=1:
The crew and passengers were:
Captain William Driscoll-Pilot
1st.Lt. H.W. Olsen-Co-Pilot
1st.Lt. J.P. Hennessey-Navigator
T/Sgt. J.E. Patterson-Engineer
T/Sgt. R.L. Marshall-Radio Operator
Passengers:
Sgt. Joseph L. Arrigotti-R.O.
2nd.Lt. Richard M. Blake-P
2nd.Lt. Edward F. Brick-N
T/Sgt. Robert E. Boyd-E
Sgt. Albert Engasser-E
1st.Lt. Reginald H. Gehman
1st.Lt. Vincent P. Hamilton-N
2nd.Lt. George J. Leary-N
2nd.Lt. Roland F. Mosher-P
Sgt. Frederick L. Mootz-RO
Sgt. George S. Moss-E
2nd. Lt. Stephen J. Nagy-P
1st.Lt. William F. Price-N
T/Sgt. Floyd K. Relyea-RO
Flt.Officer. Roy W. Sechler-P
Sgt. Clarence K. Smith-? (Note: RO? Trained as a radio mechanic)
2nd.Lt. Clesen H. Tenney-P
2nd.Lt. Loran A. Umpleby-N
2nd.Lt. Ralph G. Wills.

I highly recommended reading the following for the City of Wirral’s emergency response, witness interviews, photos of the crash site and memorial monument, and letter from a widow: http://oldwirral.net/landican_bombercrash.html

For more eye witness interviews regarding the crash see: https://ww2today.com/18-october-1944-usaaf-liberator-explodes-in-mid-air-over-the-wirral

Also see: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-consolidated-b-24h-20-cf-liberator-near-birkenhead-24-killed

And: https://www.fold3.com/page/638587466-robert-e-boyd/stories