m a r k e r i c k s o n p a i n t i n g s Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson Air Corps 1942 - 1945
Click to view Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson's complete thirty five mission list and twelve B-17 Flying Fortresses flown between March 27th thru August 26th, 1944 out of Horham Airfield, England.
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My father Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson kept many things from his years in the Air Corps. It's a truly amazing collection of photographs, documents, equipment and hundreds of letters and postcards. He often sent home things to his folks in Bismarck, North Dakota between 1942 and 1945, his years in the Air Corps. In late 1943 through 1945 he piloted various planes and after his combat flying became a flight instructor. From February through October 1944 Ernest Anders piloted B-17s out of Horham Airfield in England on thirty five missions over German occupied Europe. His parents Clara and Frank Erickson kept everything safe and sound that they received for decades. My dad retrieved much of it over the years. I certainly enjoyed seeing the photographs whenever I had the opportunity. After my father passed in 2013 I began to seriously delve into this incredible archive. Much of it I have already posted here on this site. Along the way of archiving the collection I came across a thick envelope of 'The Stars and Stripes' newspapers that contained thirty copies dating from March 29th through August 28th, 1944. These dates coincide with Ernest Anders thirty five missions that he accomplished between March 27th and his final and 35th mission on August 26th, 1944. I plan to post many of the 1944 Stars & Stripes Newspapers here on the site with additional corresponding photographs Below are details of my father's first two missions, a 95th Bomb Group article, hand written mission notes and a beauty of a photograph of Ernest Anders before a mission at Horham Airfield. The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated March 29th, 1944 reported the previous days 8th Air Force bombing activities over France that Ernest Anders and crew contributed in their first and second missions.
Here are details of those two missions: Of the 701 bombers dispatched March 27th, 256 B-17s (3rd Air Division) from the 94th, 95th, 96th, 100th, 385th, 388th, 390th, 447th and the 452th Bomb Groups are dispatched. 123 are effective on the German airfield of Bordeaux/Merginac, France; 118 are effective on the German airfield at Cazaux, France; 7 are effective on the German airfield at Chartres, France.
Mission #2 - March 28, 1944 Of the 450 bombers dispatched March 28th, 191 B-17s (3rd Air Division) from the 94th, 95th, 96th, 100th, 385th, 388th, 390th, 447th and the 452th Bomb Groups are dispatched. 127 are effective on the German airfield at Chateaudun, France, 61 are effective on the German airfield at Chartres, France. 2 aircraft Failed to Return and 13 airmen are killed in action, 9 prisoners of war, 59 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is Wounded in action. There were no other losses, casualties or claims in these bomb groups. Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson's 1942 - 1945 Air Corps Biography |
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