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Personal info

Full name
ANDERSON, Harold Robert
Date of birth
14 October 1911
Age
31
Place of birth
Goldfield, Teller County, Colorado
Hometown
Denver, Denver County, Colorado

Military service

Service number
39249599
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
11 June 1943
Place of death
North Sea, north of Borkum, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Fred Anderson (father)
Mary Anderson (mother)
Ragner A. Anderson (brother)
Roy C. Anderson (brother)
Violet Anderson (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3099
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Willemshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 1368

More information

Harold Anderson was an attendant at a filling station.

He enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 22 July 1942.

His father was born in Sweden, his mother in Finland.

The aircraft was attacked by fighters over the target and on the return flight over the North Sea which set it on fire. It crashed north of Borkum Island. Only one crew member could bail out and was rescued by a German minesweeper. The other nine men drowned.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.379thbga.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII draft Card, WWII Enlistment Record

Photo source: Peter Schouteten