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name
ANDERSEN, Elmer Jens - Date of
birth
16 February 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Fresno, Fresno County, California -
Hometown
Fresno, Fresno County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39698527 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
12 June 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, 9 Miles off Dunkerque, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Anders P Andersen (father)
Kirsten Andersen (mother)
Carl Andersen (brother)
Donald N. Andersen (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37601 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Rosières-en-Santerre, France
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 5625
More information
S/Sgt Elmer J. Andersen graduated from the Central Union High School and was employed in the pharmacy department of the Fresno County General Hospital before he enlisted in Fresno, California on 10 May 1943.The crew was on their first mission.
The aircraft was hit by flak over Dunkerque at 08.53 hours at 24,000 feet. The #4 engine caught fire and the right wing broke off near the the #4 engine inducing a spin. Five or six parachutes may have come from this aircraft.
The only surviver, George L. Sherback had no recollection of leaving the plane and believed he must have been blown clear. A German officer told him the plane exploded and the remains of the other crewmembers went into the sea.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 100thBomberGroup.com, www.ancestry.com Fresno Bee Republican - 7 July 1944, www.fold3.com, MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.100thBomberGroup.com