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Submit- Full
name
ANDERSON, Ernest L "Ernie" - Date of
birth
1 April 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Leonard, Cass County, North Dakota -
Hometown
Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-731784 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
558th Bombardment Squadron,
387th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
31 August 1943 - Place of
death
Airfield
Lille, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 4 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl L. Anderson (father)
Mattie Anderson (mother)
Elsie Anderson (sister)
Margret Anderson (sister)
Allen Anderson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-31653 -
Data
Type: B-26A
Nickname: King Bee
Destination: Lille, France
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 471
More information
1st Lt. Ernest L. Anderson graduated from Fargo High School in 1937 where he was active in sports and was in the National Honor Society. He was employed by the Merchants National Bank & Trust Company.Statement from T/Sgt Clinton C. Guy, a crew member of another B-26 in the same group:
"We were over target and bomb-bay doors were just opening. I was facing the rear of our ship, and looking through our front bomb-bay. The lost ship was at that time flying to the right of ours, suddenly, I saw it nose over and as it came into full view, I saw that the rear third of the ship was missing. The remaining section went into a tight spin for about 1500 feet. then went into a flat spin. I followed it visually until the ship was almost to the ground, and knowing the crash was inevitable, turned away."
One crew member survived. He was wounded, taken prisoner and evacuated to the Albert Calmette hospital in Lille. The other five crew members were killed and initially buried at the cemetery of the hospital.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.archives.gov, B26.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Fred, B26.com, www.ancestry.com - Fargo High School, 1937