Helmer Orland Baland was born on June 4, 1922, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. He was the son of George Torger Peter Baland and Minnie Larson Baland.

Helmer served in the 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17G #43-38699 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on February 6, 1945, when his airplane was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17G #43-38167 over France.

That day, his crew took off from airfield station 134 in Eye, England, for a strategic mission to Chemnitz, Germany. Upon reaching 17,000 feet, his plane collided with B-17G #43-38167 piloted by Lt Schoenfield and crashed near Mittersheim. This resulted in the death of seven members of his crew; 3 survived and recovered. Sgt Johnston, who jumped around 3000 feet, indicated that the survivors were transferred to Nancy, then to Vittel, returned to Nancy, then Paris by rail, and finally returned to the UK in C-47 on February 11, 1945.

2Lt Baland is now buried in the Epinal American Cemetery, Dinozé, France.

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38699:
Dunn, Marshall C ~ 1st Lt, Pilot
Philley, Jack O ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Baland, Helmer O ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator
Horton, Fred H ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Mayhew, Donald R ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY
McKinney, Clarence H ~ T/Sgt, Mechanic
Mulvihill, Edward J ~ S/Sgt, Bombardier

The survivors were SSgt Dean R. Smith, SSgt George A. Naifeh, and SSgt Osvil F. Johnston.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net