Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
SANDERS, John Jacob "Sandy"
Date of birth
26 November 1918
Age
24
Place of birth
Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Hometown
Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas

Military service

Service number
O-662829
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
4 February 1943
Place of death
12 miles northwest of the western tip of Terschelling Island, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Thomas H. Sanders (father)
Myrtle E. (Miller) Sanders (mother)
Francis Sanders (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
41-24544
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pennsylvania Polka
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 3557/4635

More information

Lt. Sanders attended Corpus Christi Junior College and then the A&M College of Texas (now Texas A&M University) as a member of the Class of 1940 where here graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering.

After suffering damage during the bomb run, the airplane was attacked by FW 190's on the return flight shortly after 12.40 hrs., knocking out #3 engine.

The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered. Seven are remembered at the Walls of the Missing of Margraten, three are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial of Cambridge.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Texas A&M University Archives-Association of
Former Students Files, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.wwiimemorial.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://bookreader.library.tamu.edu - Texas A&M University - 1940 Yearbook