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Personnel

S/Sgt

James Lenord HELLER

James Heller

Photo from news article dated April 19 1945

Hometown During Time of Service: Brushton, PA
Army Serial Number: 13060215
Enlistment Date: April 6, 1942
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 349th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Ball Turret Gunner
Beginning Date of 100th Service: Unknown
Time of Service at Thorpe Abbotts: Unknown - Unknown

Additional 100th Service Notes

Status: KIA
MACR: 05383
CR: 05383
Comments: 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE (COL WITH 107095)

Biography

Born October 27, 1918
Birthplace: Homewood, PA
James Heller’s body was repatriated and he was interred in 1951 in a common grave with Elmer Vishion and others in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

Media Articles

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Media ItemTypePageVolume/IssueBroadcast SourceTimeDescriptionFile
James Heller graduates mechanics schoolPrintThe Pittsburgh Press August 14 194312:00 am
James Heller MIA PrintPittsburgh Sun TelegraphApril 19 194512:00 am
James Heller KIAPrintThe Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph July 17 194512:00 am
James Heller Purple HeartPrintThe Pittsburgh Press July 17 194512:00 am

Additional Military Documents

James Heller

Draft registration card front

Comments and Notes

Memo 1:
CREW

F/O CHARLES L. PETERSEN P KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
2ND LT JAMES D. KEEFFE CP KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
2ND LT ELMER H. VISHION NAV KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
1ST LT JAMES F. JONES BOM KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT PAUL ZIMA ROG KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT CARL J. PHILLIPS TTG KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT JAMES L. HELLER BTG KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT ANDREW L. ADDISION WG POW 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT RICHARD J. SAWAYA WG KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT CORWIN E. ALSPACH TG KIA 05 JUN 44 BOULOGNE

349th Sqdn.. Crew, as above, joined the 100th on 26 may 44

This was the second mission for the above crew; EYEWITNESS REPORT: A/C #591 (Petersen) was flying right wing on A/C # 095 when 095 (Lt Wilson) was hit by a ground rocket and collided with # 591. The nose section of # 095 was sheared off, but it appeared to remain under control and peeled out of the formation. Five chutes were seen from # 095 as it "SSS" back toward the channel. A/C #591 was last sighted about three miles south of Boulogne at 1015 hours.

A/C # 43-37591 MACR #5383, Microfiche # 1957

CREW
A/C # 42-31987 "SHILAYEE"
2ND LT MARK V. WILSON P POW 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
2ND LT CHARLES E. ADAMS CP CPT WITH STANLEY CLARK CREW
2ND LT JOHN T. JOHNSON NAV KIA 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
2ND LT RALPH A. KROENKE BOM KIA 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
S/SGT EUGENE V. SWEENEY ROG POW 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
S/SGT JOHN W. McAULIFFE TTE POW 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT DONALD M. ROHASEK BTG POW 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT WILLIAM E. MORELAND RWG POW 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE
SGT GEORGE B. DONAHUE LWG NOC
SGT CECIL G. DAVIS TG POW 5 JUN 44 BOULOGNE

349th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 21 Feb 1944. On 5 Jun 1944, Lt. Donald Roth, CP on the F.J. Herres crew, was flying in place of C.E.Adams and was KIA. S/Sgt Glover Nall, from the J.A. Harrison crew, was flying in place of G.B.Donhoue and became a POW. On 5 Jun 1944 the Wilson crew was flying a brand new silver B-17G 42-107095, XR-F since they were now a lead Crew. shilaylee was Lt Wilsons aircraft prior to receiving this new plane.

KIA / MIA / EVA / INT Information:

Target:
 Boulogne
Aircraft:
(43-37591)
Date:
1944-06-05
Cause:
Collided with 107095

Burial Information:

Cemetery:
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

Photos

Charles Peterson

Headstone for Crew of F/O Charles L. Petersen.

Crew List

1st Crew List

Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.

Rank Name Pos Status
F/O PETERSEN, Charles L. P KIA
LT KEEFFE, James D. CP KIA
Lt VISHION, Elmer NAV KIA
LT JONES, James F. BOM KIA
T/Sgt PHILLIPS, Carl J. TTE KIA
T/SGT ZIMA, Paul ROG KIA
S/Sgt HELLER, James BTG KIA
SGT ADDISON, Andrew L. WG POW
S/SGT SAWAYA, Richard J. WG KIA
S/Sgt ALSPACH, Corwin E. TG KIA