42-3085 Helno-Gal
Story told by Walter Ram - radio operator on Helno-Gal.
Delivered Cheyenne 3/2/43; Dow Fd 12/4/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-N] Rougham 28/4/43; battle damaged Emden 21/5/43 with Pilot: Willard Roemke; Co-Pilot: Wilbur Meyer; Bombardier: Bradford Moore; Navigator: John Garey; Radio Operator: Walter Ram; Top Turret Gunner/Flight Engineer: Herman Hilbert; Waist Gunner: Paul Hunt; Waist Gunner: Thomas C. Hamilton; Ball Turret Gunner: Charles (Chuck) Lewis; Tail Gunner: Elson E. (Jack) Frost (10 Returned to Duty); force landed Nth Weald, Ex.; Salvaged 6/7/43 due to battle damage. HELNO GAL. Sustained heavy battle damage over Emden on May 31, 1943.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20884900
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
Missions
- Date: 21 May 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Delivered |
Cheyenne, WY | 3 February 1943 | |
Assigned |
Rougham Airfield, UK | 28 April 1943 | 94BG 331BS |
Other Force Landed |
RAF North Weald | 21 May 1943 |
Revisions
Interview with 99-year-old Walter Ram, last surviving crewmember of this B-17. It is also listed in his book, HELNO-GAL, A Survivor's Story of World War II and the Infamous Stalag 17.
Interview with 99-year-old Walter Ram, last surviving crewmember of this B-17. It is also listed in his book, HELNO-GAL, A Survivor's Story of World War II and the Infamous Stalag 17.
There is a lot more to this story, including the navigator (John Garey) froze up during the last mission and could not find England. The crew had him replaced with another navigator in their replacement aircraft, 42-22957. I did not want to disparage Mr. Garey (although his crew did), so I did not include it.
Thank you,
Walter Ram, Jr.