Helm Bruce Brooks

Military

Helm Bruce Brooks served as a waist gunner in the 445th Bomb Group/703rd Bomb Squadron. He was awarded the Air Medal on 15 March 1944 by Colonel Robert H. Terrill and the Distinguished Flying Cross by Jimmy Stewart on 27 October 1944 (info from granddaughter Barbara Kreutzer). He flew most of his missions on the William P. Kane crew.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

William P Kane

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-886972
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'

Tibenham

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

17 May 1921 Louisville, Kentucky

Enlisted

16 July 1942 Louisville, Kentucky

Died

4 October 1970 Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio

Buried

Helm Brooks rests at the Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File
2005 e-mail with granddaughter Belinda Kreutzer
http://www.445bg.org

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Birsic, SO#265 12 Oct 44 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia