Sgt. Herman C. Heller, United States Army Air Corp
Sgt. Herman C. Heller, United States Army Air Corp
Herman C. Heller served with the 452nd Bomb Squad, 322nd Bomber Group as an aircraft mechanic. He joined the US Army Air Corp shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He completed basic training and after a short battle with yellow jaundice he finished his mechanic school with a score of 98.7. A test score that he is still very proud of. His training included a trip to the Glen Martin Aircraft Company where the B 26 bombers were being built. He suggests that the B26 was the most beautiful plane of its day.
Herman traveled overseas on the Queen Elizabeth, most luxury liners of that day were converted to troop transports to get the boys over to England. The big ships could carry 18,000+ troops per trip. Herman mentioned that except for the zigzag course to prevent exposure to U-boats, the ocean crossing was uneventful.
Herman is second from the left.
The 452nd was stationed at Rougham Air Field and on May 14th 1943 Herman remembers the loading of the first bomber mission to Ijmiden Holland. The raid was thought to be successful with all planes returning but heavy damaged. One plane has over 280 holes through it. It was later discovered that the mission was unsuccessful but Herman's unit continued to go out even when some missions lost all of their planes on some of the missions trying to attack the German targets.
On D Day the 452nd was part of the attack running three missions a day. It was a hectic day that was followed by many busy days until the unit was moved to France. Herman's unit worked out of the Beaveau France air field and they lived in tents along the air field. It wasn't so bad until the snow came and Herman says it was "damn cold."
During the Battle of the Bulge the 452nd was concerned that they would be a target of German parachutist. The German units failed to reach the air field when the weather cleared and the bombers again took to the air. By December of 1944 the bomber squadron was again flying three missions a day into Germany. By March the unit was moved to Le Culot, Belgium. That spring the mission became fewer and fewer and they could tell that the end was near.
Part of the 452nd Bomber Squadron
Herman's memoirs speak of soldier mischief, good times and bad. His Army Air Corp days helped him to find a wife (Alice his pretty English bride) and to quickly become a man. Herman's mother passed away while he was overseas and he could not return for her funeral. During the war, he lost many close friends, but their lives and courage are remembered by this Bayfield County Veteran.
Herman's beautiful B26 Bombers airborne.