William Charles Heller
Military
Rear L-R: 1Lt John De Sousa Jr, 1Lt James P Zwayer, 2Lt John M Chapman, Capt William C Heller, Capt Louis M Schulstad.
Front L-R: Sgt Paul E. Buckley, T/Sgt Felix Spoerri, S/Sgt Anthony Laurinitis, S/Sgt Leo Lanier Jr, S/Sgt George S Payne, T/Sgt William J Huston, S/Sgt Melvin E. Schultz.
Object Number - UPL 31536 - Captain Shulstad and lead crew on bombing mission to Brunswick, Germany, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress". 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd...
Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Completed 35+ missions. 15-Oct-43 A/C accident on return from mission in B-17 #42-5393 'Thumper Again' RTD.
Awards: SS, DFC, AM (4OLC), Croix de Guerre, WWII Victory, EAME.
Post war: went on to fly with Lufthansa Airlines for 15 years, met Gen. Galland on one of his flights and became good friends. He flew as an airline captain with other airlines for a total of 35 years. Was also chief pilot, FAA & CAA Designee.
Connections
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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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-407138
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-778802
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Heller's Angel
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
![Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407619.jpg.webp?itok=aEyghgX9)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iza Vailable
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
![Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group prepare to load bombs and ammunition into a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Satan's Workshop". Passed as censored, then marked as 'Confidential' 27 Aug 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG.' On reverse: 'Confidential Until Re-Classified By Censor' and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407608.jpg.webp?itok=L4yllyAy)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Satan's Workshop
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 360th Bomb Squadron 303rd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Scorchy
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
11 July 1920 | ||
|
Died |
16 November 2011 | ||
|
Buried |
10 April 2012 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Columbarium Court 7-E, Column 10, Niche 4 | |
|
Based |
Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Added a connection to A/C #42-5854 per info in the book "Half a Wing, Three Engines And a Prayer" by "Brian D. O’Neill" on page 211.
Added a "-" to the A/C type in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000/ short resume with 303rd, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFS Vol. I p. 343
