Hjelm Rex Paul

Name:

Rex Paul Hjelm

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-740423

Unit:

343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1978-10-30

State:

California

Cemetery:

El Toro Memorial Park, Lake Forest, Orange County, California

Plot:

Section LO Block 17 Lot 10xx Space 8

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Comments:

Rex Paul Hjelm, of Firth, Idaho, was born on February 28, 1920. He was the son of Gustaf Henrik Valentin Hjelm and Dolphia Cecilia Peterson Hjelm.

Rex served in the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the P-38 #42-68102 during World War II.

On June 11, 1944, he took off from Station 159 airfield in Wormingford, England, on an armed reconnaissance mission to Beaumont/Chauny/Compičgne in France. At around 03:30 PM, he was shot down in a dogfight by an enemy fighter, crashing his plane into the town of Bailleul-le-Soc. 1Lt Hjelm managed to eject, and through the help of the maquis, he was able to survive. He was one of the 152 allied airmen and soldiers who were helped and hidden in the Freteval Forest camp by the French Resistance to evade German capture.

1Lt Hjelm also served during the Korean War. He achieved his highest in the United States Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel. He died on October 30, 1978, at the age of 58, and is now buried in the El Toro Memorial Park, Lake Forest, Orange County, California, USA.

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