World War II Honoree

Emanuel 'Fritz' Helzer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Milliken, Colorado

Honored By

Paul Helzer

Relationship

Son

CHIEF MECHANIC IN ENGLAND WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE WORKING ON B-17 AIRCRAFT NEAR WATFORD, ENGLAND FROM 1941 TO 1945. UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL HUNTER WAS ON A FLIGHT OF P-38'S ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME FIGHTER AIRCRAFT HAD EVER BEEN CALLED UPON TO MAKE SUCH A FLIGHT. IN EUROPE, WHILE SERVING WITH THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE (THE FIRST STRATEGIC AIR FORCE), HE WAS ON A MISSION TO SUPPORT AN INVASION OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE FROM THE BRITISH ISLES. HE CARRIED OUT STRATEGIC DAYTIME BOMBING OPERATIONS IN WESTERN EUROPE FROM AIRFIELDS IN EASTERN ENGLAND. COLD AND CLEAR WEATHER WAS PREDICTED FOR THE LAST WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1944 AND OPERATION ARGUMENT BECAME KNOWN AS 'BIG WEEK'. ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 19-20, THE ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBED LEIPZIG. THE 8TH PUT UP OVER 1,000 B-17S AND B-24'S AND OVER 800 FIGHTERS. AFT FACTORIES WERE ATTACKED, THEY HEADED TO LEIPZIG, BERNBURG AND OSCHERSLEBEN, HIT THE MESSERSCHMITT BF 110 PLANTS AT GOTHA, THE FOCKE-WULF FW 190 PLANT AT TUTOW AND THE HEINKEL HE 111 PLANT AT ROSTOCK. THE RAIDS ON THE GERMAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY CAUSED SO MUCH DAMAGE THAT THE GERMANS WERE FORCED TO DISPERSE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING EASTWARD, TO SAFER PARTS OF THE REICH.