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 my father's 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 and crew accomplished between March 27th and their final and 35th mission on August 26th, 1944.

I will post many of the 1944 Stars & Stripes Newspapers here on the site with additional corresponding photographs and documents.

Below are details of my father's two mission over Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Luneburg Airfield, Rathenow, Germany aboard the B-17 - Smilin Sandy Sanchez (297290) on April 18th, 1944 and over Werl, Germany aboard the B-17 'Able Mabel" (42-31920) on April 19, 1944. Also you will find his hand written mission notes from that April 19th. Lastly a photograph of Ernest Anders at Foggia Airfield in Italy sitting on the wing of an abandoned Luftwaffe JU-88 bomber.

The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated April 20th, 1944 reported the previous days 8th Air Force bombing raids into Germany that Ernest Anders and crew contributed flying with the 334th Squadron.

The headline reads ominously:
'8,500 Tons Rained on Nazis in 30 Hours'

Mission #4.5 (Did Not Count) - April 18th, 1944
aboard the B-17 - Smilin' Sandy Sanchez (42-97290)
Received “extensive” battle damage - Returned To Horham
Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Luneburg Airfield, Rathenow, Germany

776 bombers and 634 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and aviation industry targets in Germany. The AAF claims 33-5-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 bombers and 5 fighters are lost. Due to poor weather, several units bomb targets of opportunity in the Berlin area. Those details are:

1. 275 of 280 B-17s hit aviation industry targets at Oranienburg, Perleberg Airfield, Wittenberge and targets of opportunity. 3 B-17s are lost and 90 damaged. 29 airmen are missing in action.

2. 210 of 221 B-17s hit Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Luneburg Airfield, Rathenow and targets of opportunity. 14 B-17s are lost and 94 damaged, 2 airmen are killed in action, 12 wounded in action and 139 are missing in action.

3. 248 of 275 B-24s hit Brandenburg, Rathenow, Cuxhaven, Wittenberge and targets of opportunity 2 B-24s are lost and 20 damaged, 5 airmen are wounded in action and 20 are missing in action. Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 296 P-47s and 219 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s. 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 3 P-51s are lost, 3 P-38s are damaged beyond repair and 7 P-38s, 3 P-47s and 18 P-51s are damaged. 4 pilots are missing in action.

5 of 5 B-17s drop 2.56 million leaflets on Stavanger, Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway at 2336-0041 hours without loss.

Mission #5 - April 19, 1944
Aboard the B-17 - Able Mabel (42-31920)
Werl, Germany

772 bombers and 697 fighters are dispatched in 3 forces to bomb Germany. They claim 17-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.

1. 271 of 277 B-17s hit the Kassel area, Eschwege Airfield, Limburg and a target of opportunity. Five B-17s are lost and 119 damaged. Casualties are 1 killed in action, 5 wounded in action and 47 missing in action.

2. 243 of 246 B-17s hit Lippstadt and Werl Airfields and a target of opportunity. 21 B-17s are damaged and casualties are 2 killed in action, 8 wounded in action and 55 missing in action.