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name
HELPES, Robert R - Date of
birth
24 October 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39567121 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
700th Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 June 1944 - Place of
death
Baltic Sea, 800 meters south of the island of Årø, Denmark
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 39 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Almer J. Helpes (father)
Mary E. Helpes (mother)
Orville J. Helpes (brother)
William H. Helpes (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50329 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 6166
More information
S/Sgt Robert R. Helpes attended college for 1 year and was a typist. He enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 23 March 1943.The airplane was hit by flak over the target and attacked by a ME 410 and shot down by 20 mm canon fire. Eight crew members were killed, two were taken prisoner.
It is believed that the fighter belonged to Luftbeobachtungsstaffel 1 and was piloted by Leutnant Woeske who claimed a B 24 at 12:42 hours.
S/Sgt Robert R. Helpes was found washed ashore on the beach near the “Brogården” farm on Helnæs and was laid to rest in Helnæs cemetery on 14 August 1944. His remains were disinterred on 27 April 1948 and were evacuated to Ardennes American Cemetery.
The remains of two crew members, Henry J. Gordon and James O. Snyder, were never recovered. Their names are remembered on Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery.
The killed crew memberes are remembered with a memorial in Årø, Denmark.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com