Leon Helton was born in 1920 in Tennessee, the son of Wilson D. Helton and Lucy Flippo. He had two brothers, Tolbert Maxey Helton and John Anderson Helton.
T/Sgt Helton served with the 479th Anti-submarine Group, 4th Anti-submarine Squadron, 8th Air Force
Memorialized at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
Aircraft B-24D with serial number 42-40790 departed from Dunkeswell Devon, England on a Antisubmarine Patrol mission. The area surrounding 4800N-1054W, in the Bay of Biscay, was under constant coverage before and during the time of the casualty and throughout the night of September 8, 1943. The aircraft dispersed to this area on the evening and night of September 8, 1943, were alerted to the facts of the casualty.
The plane crashed at 5850N-1045W in the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of Sweden.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Edward I. Finneburgh
Co-Pilot, F/O John E. Schneider
Bombardier, 1st Lt Norman J. Evensen
Navigator, 1st Lt Anthony J. Leone
Radar Operator, T/Sgt William H. Hulen
Radio Operator, T/Sgt Travis L. Sutton
Engineer/Gunner, T/Sgt Leon Helton
Rear Turret Gunner, Sgt Leroy A. Footh
Radio Operator/Gunner, S/Sgt Joseph H.W. Roux
Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Lonnie A. Smith
- Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Date of death: 8 September 1943
- County: Carter
- Hometown: Hampton
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 4th Anti-Submarine Squadron
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Leon Helton
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
