Stanley Grant Helmsdorff, 94, of Duxbury, died Sunday, Dec. 12th after a long illness. He was the widower of Barbara Sutton Helmsdorff, his wife of 40 years, who died July 2, 2010.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the 57th Bomb Wing of the 12th Air Force in the African, Mediterranean and European Theaters.
A First Lieutenant and a B-25 pilot, he served in the 379th Bombing Squadron of the 310 Bomber Group. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during an attack on a railroad bridge Aug. 6 1944 at Avignon, France.
But his proudest accomplishment by far was completing 66 combat missions. He volunteered to fly additional missions so that two of his crew who joined late could finish their tours with him as pilot. He explained later that he could never have looked his father in the eye if he did not volunteer and they were lost.
In the commendation for the Distinguished Flying Cross, his commanding officer wrote, “Upon commencement of the bomb run, direct hits from intense anti-aircraft fire heavily damaged his airplane. Displaying great courage and superior flying ability, as he skillfully maintained his crippled plane in perfect formation, Lt. Helmsdorff enabled his bombardier to release his bombs with devastating effect upon this vital objective.”
He was born April 24, 1916, the son of Carl and Dagney Helmsdorff. He attended Boston Public Schools and was a graduate of the Mechanic Arts High School in Boston. He lived for many years in Needham and Westwood before retiring to East Falmouth. He moved to the Duxbury House in 2005.
He was a member of Local 13 of the Boston Typographical Union and worked many years as a compositor at the Herald Traveler and the Boston Herald. He retired in 1980.
He was a man of many interests and continued learning throughout his life. A common theme to all his hobbies was a fascination about how things worked and became particularly fascinated by computers later in life.
He was an avid boater, fisherman and sunbather. He loved to travel with his wife, visiting the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe, in addition to their extended stays at Marco Island in Florida.
He was an excellent dancer, still dancing a mean jitterbug well into his 80s.
He was a reliable and patient playmate for all his grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his two sons, Bruce and Brian Helmsdorff and his first wife, Pearl Peterson Helmsdorff.
He is survived by two step-daughters, Marianne Reinhalter of Duxbury and Patricia J. Casey of Dartmouth, their spouses and their five children.
A visiting hour will be held at the Richard Davis Funeral Home, 373 Court Street (Rt 3A), N. Plymouth, from 9:30 to 10:30 am Wednesday December 15, 2010, followed by a funeral mass at Holy Family Church in Duxbury at 11 AM. Burial is private.