401st Bomb Group (H) Association
The best damned outfit in the USAAF!
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Chad S. Dornquast
10/4/2001 6:21:10 AM
My uncle's name was Wesley Helm. I have very little information on him, but her is what I believe to be reliable: I belive he flew in an aircraft named "The Mountain Dew", was the co-pilot, possibly in the 614th or 615th.  Please shed any information that is possible.  He passed away 10+ years ago, and no one in my family ever really found out any historical information.  Any help is appreciated.
Art Seder
10/5/2001 8:37:10 AM
Your uncle, Wesley Helm, was co-pilot on a crew piloted by G. L. La Fevor. Other members of the crew were J.R. Howell, Navigator; D. L. Anderson, Bombardier; C. K. Fidler, Radio Operator; B. B. Berg, Engineer/Top Turret; S. Stanford, Ball Turret; W. L. Carpenter, Tail Gunner; A. J. Hayden, Left Waist Gunner; and R. E. Bilyeu, Right Waist Gunner.
     The crew flew its first mission on 1 May 1944 to Siracourt, France. Their ninth mission was flown 6 June, to Ver-Sur-mer in support of the D Day landing. Their fifteenth mission was to Berlin on 21 June.
     The crew flew 30 missions in all, the last to Elbeuf on 13 August 1944. The records do not show their flying in "The Mountain Dew". However, they are shown as flying in Blue Bomb Express (25th mission), Hula Girl (26th), Betty's Revenge (27th), Madame Queen (28th)and Down 'n Go (29th). The names of the airplanes they flew on other missions are not recorded.
Chad S> Dornquast
1/8/2002 11:13:31 PM
Art,

Thank you so much for finding this huge amount of information for me.  My wife and I plan a trip to Europe in 2003 and will stop at the 401st Memorial.  I truly appreciate the time you spent to find so much information that was unknown to me.  Thank you again...

Chad
Dave Good
5/1/2004 4:21:52 PM
Hmmm... I'm actually looking for Chad. Anyone... Buehler...?
Dave Good
7/6/2005 2:48:03 AM
I hate to intrude again in this forum, but I'd still like to contact Chad who has posted on this site before.
John Hietter
8/13/2006 6:17:26 PM
Hey Dave - I'd like to hear from you AND Chad.  I hope you're doing well.