Wayne Sherwood Heckendorn
Military
Self explanatory
Object Number - UPL 56430 - Sgt. Wayne S. Heckendorn
Assigned to 68BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. Staff Sergeant Heckendorn served on B-17 41-9032 'My Gal Sal' which crash-landed in Greenland, 27-Jun-42. All crew were rescued uninjured. RTD
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
![Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg.webp?itok=n7iztoxa)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14067224 / O-415876
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: My Gal Sal
- Unit: 342nd Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Group
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Wichita, Kansas | 3 September 1919 | Son of Fred B. and Lois E. [Linnens] Heckendorn. |
|
Enlisted |
2 February 1942 | ||
|
Other Discharged |
8 September 1945 | ||
|
Died |
Kimberling City, Missouri | 12 August 1978 | |
|
Buried |
Greenwood Cemetery Newton, Harvey County, KS | 15 August 1978 | Greenwood Cemetery Newton, Harvey County, Kansas |
|
Based |
Assigned to 68BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Brought together information from duplicate record to include information from 487th Bomb Group unit roster
Updated biography to correct errors and add new information, all from published public sources.
Gravestone states final rank as SSgt .https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120820349/wayne-sherwood-heckendorn
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hay p.14
