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Personal info

Full name
ANDERSON, Richard B
Date of birth
13 March 1915
Age
29
Place of birth
Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Erie County, New York
Religion
Protestant

Military service

Service number
12017424
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Unit
856th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 12 20

Immediate family

Members
Albert B. Anderson (father)
Audrey C. Anderson (mother)
Mary J. Anderson (sister)
Robert S. Anderson (brother)
Jack A. Anderson (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-110143
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Little Lulu
Destination: Politz, Germany
MACR: 7083

More information

T/Sgt Richard B. Anderson graduated from Olean High School.

He enlisted in Buffalo, New York on 19 November 1940 and was sent overseas in May 1944.

On 20 June 1944, they were sent to bomb the oil refinery at Politz. They were blown out of the sky over the Baltic by rocket firing Me-410s and JU-88s. There were no survivors of the 10-man crew.

His brother, Lt Robert S. Anderson also served with the Army Air Corps overseas.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, 492nd Bomb Group, www.ancestry.com The Times Herald

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Buffalo News - 26 February 1945