Sgt Peder Heller 93rd BG s/n 37303203

[kaki3152]

In my hometown, there was a book published some years ago titled "Central Coast Aviators in WWII". Among the stories in this book, Ex Sgt Heller narrated how he was the sole survivor of his crew on three occasions His first one, he was the tail gunner on a flak damaged B-24. He fell asleep on the return home When the B-24 arrived at base, it made a hard landing and the tail section broke off, leaving Sgt Heller safe. The second one was when his B-24 was damaged on a raid to France. It ditched in the Channel and Sgt Heller was thrown clear through the waist window. The B-24 hit some rocks and blew up, killing the rest of the crew. The final was when his B-24crashed on takeoff The crew escaped but failed to clear the area around the B-24 and when the bombs went off, the crew was killed. Any further information would be welcome.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Have to ask. Were all three events while he was with the 93rd BG ?
Alex

[Alex Smart]

From"findagrave" -
Born 30/12/1916
Died 20/03/1996
Photo shows B24 with crew, a/c name "Teggie Ann" .
There was more than one.
41-23754 was interned in Turkey in August '43.
"Teggie Ann II" 41-23999

[kaki3152]

I do not know if these all happened with the 93rd BG

[Alex Smart]

Several ditched in the English Channel/Bay of Biscay.
41-23732, 41-24025, 41-24122, 42-41004, 42-50628, 42-50829, 42-64433, 44-50697.
42-50597 - "Beaver's Baby" 16/12/44 blew up, Bomb(s) on the ground .Could be his last mentioned.
All were 93 BG.

[RSwank]

A Newspaper story on Heller in two parts. A few more details:

https://www.newspapers.com/article/t...une/181165975/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/t...une/181165740/

[Buckeye30]

Hi Alex. 42-50597 crashed on take-off on 19 Dec 44 (Mission 756) at Hardwick in fog (bad weather generally); all 11 crew killed . Pilot 1/lt. R W Marx; the 11 names are on a memorial by the road .
I could only find 1 Heller on the 93rd roster, 2/Lt. Eugene Heller.


Nick

[Buckeye30]

41-23732 "Liberty Lass" shot down 16 April 43, 7 KIA, 3 POW.
41-24025 "Satan's Chariot" missing 31 March 43, 10 MIA.
41-24122 "Missouri Sue" shot down 16 April 43, 10 KIA
42-41004 "The Urgin' Virgin" shot down 13 Nov. 43, 10 KIA.
42-50628 shot down 3 Feb.45, 6 KIA, 3 POW.
42-50829 ditched Channel 18 Sept. 44, 8 KIA, 3 rescued by launch.
42-64433 ditched Channel 31 Dec. 43, 6 KIA, 4 rescued.
44-50697 shot down 5 April 45, all 9 KIA.


Nick
At least 6 bombers came down in the Channel on 31 Dec.43, bad weather.

[Alex Smart]

Had a look through "The Mighty Eighth Combat Chronology " and "Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth".
Came up with the following 93rd BG/409 BS B24's that may be of interest in regard to the "late 1944", first(?) event.

November '44.
5th - 42-95024 - RFO - CL - Fire - Shipmendon - 2 Kia.
11th - 42-110036 - FTR - LOC (409 BS ?).

December '44.
11th - 42-94965 - RFO - CR.
12th - 42-94880 - FTR - LOC ( But ZOI 2/7/45 New Mexico).
16th - 42-50597 - NOPS - Bomb Exploded.
19th - serial number ? - TOA - CL Alburgh - 9 Kia.
27th - 42-100413 - FTR - LOC.
31st - 42-51533 - details ?

CL - Crash landed ,pilot had control of aircraft.
FTR - Failed to Return.
LOC - Landed on the Continent behind friendly lines.
TOA - Incident occurred during Take Off or during assembly.
NOPS- Non-Operational Sortie.
RFO - Returned from Operational activity.


Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi Nick,
Thanks for the details.
Now that Swank's post has provided the newspaper cutting 's ( sadly I could only view the 1st page) it seems that Heller's first near death event took place around "late 1944" if I read it correctly. Which follows that the other two events were in 1945.
All the best
Alex