World War II Honoree

Leo H. Helus

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ellsworth, Kansas

Honored By

Brian L. Kasler

SERVED AS A SERGEANT WITH THE 834TH BOMB SQUADRON, 486TH BOMB GROUP (HEAVY) AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER WITH LIEUTENANT DAVID JOHNSTONE'S CREW OF THE B-17 'RUTHIE BEE'. HE FLEW 35 MISSIONS AND WAS SHOT DOWN BY FLAK ON A MERSEBERG RAID IN A BORROWED PLANE, 'RUTHIE BEE' BEING SHOT UP ON THE PREVIOUS MISSION AND UNDER REPAIR. THE PLANE CRASHED IN A FIELD IN BELGIUM AND THE CREW RETURNED LATER. HE RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH A SILVER OAK LEAF CLUSTER (6 AWARDS), AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT WITH 5 KNOTS, AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE BATTLE STARS.