Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 16th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

June 20th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 6th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Staffelkapitän, 4. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 1, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

November 24th, 1940

Awarded for his successes over the course of 75 bomber sorties. They included…

- Missions over Dunkirk in May 1940.
- Operations against the Loire bridges near Orleans.
- Further operations from August 1940 against special targets in England, and in particular one mission against the Worthy Down naval dockyard (NE of Southampton) on the 13.08.1940.
- His personal total of 22000 GRT worth of enemy shipping sunk and another 11000 GRT damaged.

165th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 1, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

January 16th, 1942

Awarded for his completion of a total of 210 bomber sorties. In this time he flew a variety of missions against targets in the Mediterranean, being involved in attacks on convoys and the aircraft carrier “Illustrious”, among other things. In April 1941 he sank a 10000 GRT troop transport in the port of Piraeus, Greece.

64th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 13th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 1, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

September 28th, 1942

Awarded for further distinguishing himself as a pilot and Gruppe commander as well as reaching a total of 330 sorties flown. One of his Gruppe’s most notable successes was against a group of 4 new British destroyers near Crete on the 11.05.1942. Within the space of 10 minutes they had struck the destroyers “Lively”, “Kipling” and “Jackal”, and all of these were eventually sunk. Helbig personally sunk the destroyer “Kipling” with a flight of four bombers.

In receiving the Swords Helbig was also recognized for his personal total of 182000 GRT worth of enemy shipping sunk.

20th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 28th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)