Memorial

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T/Sgt Guy S. Helton was a salesman before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Lexington, Kentucky on 28 April 1942.

F/O Louis F. Pacheco:
“I am bombardier on Lt Gay’s crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lt Howes' crew flying Baker 21, when hit by flak, was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the bomb bay, and the bomb bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lt Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship, Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly, the bomb bay burst, and I saw the doors flying out abreast our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames. I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down, and he was in a sort of flat spin, side-slipping to the right. At approximately 10,000 feet, the ship, still burning, folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship, and at about the same time, the formation started dropping its bombs on the target.”