44-6111 Helle’s Belle
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Accepted: 3 May 1944
Assigned: 4 May 1944 - Douglas Aircraft / Douglas Modification Center # 16 - (Tulsa Municipal)
Assigned: 12 May 1944 / 24 May 1944 - 2nd AF / 7th Heavy Bombardment Processing - (Kearney AAF)
Assigned: 26 May 1944 - ATC / North Atlantic Wing - (Grenier AAF)
Assigned: 28 May 1944 / 1 June 1944 - 8th AF / VIII Service Command / BAD 1 - (RAF Burtonwood)
Assigned: 5 June 1944 - 8th AF / 1st BD / 94th CBW / 457th BG / 749th BS - (RAF Glatton)
( Triangle-U ) Blue propeller hubs ( O / Helle’s Belle )
13 Combat missions
Missing in Action: 12 July 1944 (Flak)
with Ed Kozel, Co-pilot: Alvie Phares, Navigator: Selig Ratchick, Bombardier: Carl Altimus, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Nichols, Radio Operator: Jacob Alpert, Ball turret gunner: Dwight Swanson, Waist gunner: Bill Korster,Tail gunner: Tom Dalrymple
Flak damage to #1 engine and propeller
Force landed Militärflugplatz Payerne, Vaud - Switzerland (46°50'36"N / 6°54'54"E)
9 Interned (MACR 6925)
8th AF mission (Munich, Germany)
Assigned: 16 July 1944 - Militärflugplatz Dübendorf, Zürich - Switzerland
Storage of interned aircraft
Assigned: 22 September 1945 – 9th AF / BAD 1 - (RAF Burtonwood)
Salvaged: 12 October 1945 / 10 December 1945
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Missions
- Date: 12 July 1944
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Helle’s Belle
- Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 12 July 1944 |