Bicycles of the USAAF in England, WW2

[Jonesy]

MSGT Walter Ram. 94th B.G. Ex-POW Stalag 17b. In Bassingbourn England, 1943. He is now 100 years old and volunteers weekly at the 390th Memorial Hanger sharing his stories at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson.

 

[Huffy45]

MSGT Walter Ram. 94th B.G. Ex-POW Stalag 17b. In Bassingbourn England, 1943. He is now 100 years old and volunteers weekly at the 390th Memorial Hanger sharing his stories at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson.

Thanks for sharing! Absolutely amazing he is still around at 100 and the photo on the bike is just wonderful. If we could some how arrange a recreation of this photo of him on a G519 below a plane it would be the ultimate tribute in my opinion.

The name Helno-Gal came about when the co-pilot wanted to name the plane "Corky" after his wife. The crew said, "Hell no!" and the name was born.

Walter was Radio Op on Helno-Gal.. his third mission they had their engine shot out over Germany and had to belly land in England.





"The 'Helno II' was not so lucky. On their 6th mission the plane was badly damaged and 6 crew members were killed. Walter credits ball turret gunner Chuck Lewis for saving his life by throwing him out of the plane. Lewis did not survive. After spending time as a POW Walter and 4,000 of his fellow Stalag 17B POW’s were forcibly marched toward the US lines. They were eventually liberated by troops of Patton’s third Army but because Patton’s men had no way to care for them, they were left on their own for a few days. This resulted in Walter and his comrades taking some rather unusual revenge on the building that was Hitler’s birthplace."

Stalag 17B Prisoner Walter Ram

 

[johan willaert]

Last weekend there was a remembrance ceremony for a crashed 8th AAF B17 in Belgium and I displayed some of my AAF gear in the local town hall.
Amongst other things I put up a mannequin honoring the ground crews including my original paint 1942 Huffman G519..

 

[Huffy45]

@johan willaert Fantastic display, the ETO jacket is good touch. The Huffman also is just a stunner.

Great your locality still has ceremonies for events like this. Keep the history alive.

Aaron

 

[blackcat]

Hello @johan willaert ;
Beautiful display that you present to us.
I agree @Huffy45, that the ETO jacket gives a good touch (I have the 2 models).
Your mechanic, is it a vest Apron Mechanics type B-1?
Regards;
Serge

 

[johan willaert]

Your mechanic, is it a vest Apron Mechanics type B-1?

@blackcat

Hi Serge, Yes, the apron is the B1 type; I also have a B2 type new in box...

 

[johan willaert]

There are actually two British Made for US Forces jackets in the display.
There is the 2nd Pattern Enlisted Men's jacket on the ground crew mechanic and the Officers' version on the pilot on the right

 

[johan willaert]

I also have the British Made 1st Pattern Jacket, which I display on my 29th Provisional Ranger Battalion mannequin, based on period photos and on the right in the photo below

 

[Jonesy]

I adore the Brit made ETO jackets especially as so many were worn by 8th and 9th AF personnel. Here's a pic of four out of the five ETO jackets I have in my collection.

 

[blackcat]

Hello @johan willaert .
Superb collection!
I also have 2 ETO jackets: 1st Pattern and 2 nd Pattern.( my brother too)
Last Saturday, while going out near my house, i bought home a superb apron B-1 type; it is not common to find compared to the B-2 type.

My apron B-1 type and my 2 aprons B-2 type.


@Jonesy , superb ETO jackets!
Regards;
Serge