Son of Walter Arnold Helcke and Marjory Helcke, of Herne Bay. "One of the few" Battle of Britian pilot. Born in Herne Bay, Kent. His parents took him to South Africa as a child and he was educated at King Edward VII School, Johannesburg. He returned to England in 1935 and entered the Chelsea College of Aeronautical Engineering. Helcke graduated with a diploma and passed Air Ministry examinations. He obtained his 'A' license and had done a considerable amount of flying before joining the RAFVR in 1938. Called to full-time service on 1st September 1939, Helcke was with 504 Squadron at Castletown in early July 1940. Flying from Hendon on 7th September he claimed a He111 destroyed. On war memorial for King Edward VII School, Johannesburg