42-3085 Helno-Gal

media-30443.jpeg UPL 30443 Helno-Gal crash landed near North Weald on May 31, 1943 after sustaining heavy battle damage over Emden, Germany.

Story told by Walter Ram - radio operator on Helno-Gal.

Object Number - UPL 30443 - Helno-Gal crash landed near North Weald on May 31, 1943 after sustaining heavy battle damage over Emden, Germany.

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

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • 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

Missions

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

Date
ContributorWalter
Changes
Sources

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. 

Date
ContributorWalter
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed a connection to it's own tail number.

Date
ContributorWalter
Changes
Sources

Walter Ram

Date
ContributorWalter
Changes
Sources

Walter Ram

Date
ContributorWalter
Changes
Sources

Walter Ram, Jr. My father was the radio operator on this B-17.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-3085: Gallery (7 items)