Robert E. Helwig (Bob) Service No. 16045837 was based in 1942/5 at Boxted, Essex, Airfield (AAF 150) with Company 56th Fighter Group - 62nd Fighter Squadron USAAF. Soon after his arrival at Boxted Airfield he met and made friends with my mother (Kathleen) and her family living at Mark Wood Farm, close to Polstead and Stoke by Nayland, in the neighbouring county of Suffolk . Throughout Robert`s (Bob) time in England, he was made to feel welcome and "at home" by my mother and they both had many fun nights out at the USAF base dances including going to the local pubs in and around Polstead and Stoke and Nayland.



Although everyone was grateful when the war ended, there was much sadness when in September 1945, Robert E Helwig returned home to Wayne, Michigan USA. On 2nd June 1946, I was born.



After Robert's return, letters between Kathleen and Robert went back and forth, but it was with great sadness that my mother learned that on 6th December 1946 Robert had died. The record shows that on 30th October 1945 he had been honorably discharged. Medals awarded to Robert whilst in service were: E A M E Theatre Ribbon, Silver and Bronze Battle Star, 5 Overseas Service Bars, Service Strip Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge '39 - '44, 1st Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster 34 WD45. Robert qualified in office and other administration procedures and was also as an airplane armourer. As a member of the 62nd aircraft fighter squadron crew, he checked, repaired and maintained all armament equipment such as rockets, machine guns, bomb release mechanism, also loaded and fused bombs. He had a thorough knowledge of mechanism and the principles of this equipment.