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 with the 95th Bomb Group (Heavy) 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 the collection and 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.

Below are details of my father's 9th mission over Nancy, France piloting the B-17 - 'Smilin' Sandy Sanchez' (42-97290) on April 27th, 1944 and his 10th mission, a No Ball (V-1 installations) Sottevast (south of Cherbourg on April 28, 1944 piloting the B-17 - 'Smilin' Sandy Sanchez' (42-97290).

Also featured below are his hand written mission notes from both days. Last image shows Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson, standing in the center of photograph (marked with red dot) along with other airmen and ground crew of the 95th. Photograph was taken on September 7th, 1944 at Horham Airfield in England. The men use bombs to write "200" on the airfield, celebrating completion of the 95th Bomb Group's 200th mission

The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated April 28th, 1944 reported the previous days 8th Air Force bombing activities along the French coast. Lt. Erickson and crew flying 'Smilin' Sandy Sanchez' (42-97290) contributed along with the 334th Squadron on those missions.

The headline reads quite brazenly;

Heaviest U.S. Air Blow On 16 Hours
1st Double Stab Made By Forts, Libs:
Invasion Belt Blasted
3000 Planes in record Channel Shuttle;
13th Day Of Massive Onslaught
On Atlantic Wall Follows RAF Smash

Mission #9 April 27, 1944
aboard the B-17 - Smilin' Sandy Sanchez (42-97290)
B-17 received extensive battle damage)
Nancy, France

486 bombers and 543 fighters are dispatched to bomb airfields, marshaling yards and targets of opportunity in France and Belgium; 4 bombers and 4 fighters are lost.1. 168 B-17s are dispatched to bomb Nancy/Essay Airfield (103 bomb) and Toul/Croix de Metz landing ground (60 bomb), France. 2 B-17s are lost and 33 damaged; 20 airmen are missing in action.

From the diary of Airman Lt. David W LeBlanc: "This afternoon we went to Nancy, France and it turned out to be a bad day. We had #3 off the group leader. It wasn't very deep in France when #3 engine started running terribly rough so we feathered it.

While determining our trouble we fell back considerably and Knight moved up and took our place. Shortly after he did that we were hit by extremely accurate flak. The very last bursts knocked Copley and Knight down. They both had fires in the right wings. Three or four chutes were seen leaving Cope's ship - none from Knight's ship. Both planes blew up in the air.

Nick, our navigator was riding with Cope. It was his next to last trip - he asked to go. Hayward was with Cope and he was on his last mission. We were unable to keep up so dropped our bombs. Came back across France alone and at 12,000 feet. #4 Engine busted a cylinder and we feathered it and restarted #3. Our electrical system went out because of a fire in #2. Result was that we had no radio, turrets, turbos, hydraulics. P47s picked us up half-way back and remained with us all the way. Thank God for them. We landed at the coast as our gas was very low."

Mission #10 - April 28, 1944
aboard the B-17 - Smilin' Sandy Sanchez (42-97290)
B-17 received minor degrees of damage
No Ball (V-1 installations) Sottevast (south of Cherbourg)

223 bombers are dispatched. 116 of 117 B-17s hit Avord Airfield, France. 2 B-17s are lost and 38 damaged. 20 airmen are missing in action. Escort is provided by 118 P-47s and 87 P-51s. Fighters claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 8-0-3 on the ground. 2 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; 2 pilots are missing in action.

18 of 106 B-17s bomb the Sottevast, France V-1weapon site and targets of opportunity. Clouds prevent most B-17s from bombing. 2 B-17s are lost and 47 damaged. 3 airmen are wounded in action and 21missing in action. Escort is provided by 46 P-47s without loss. 2 fighter-bomber missions are also flown against airfields in France. 34 P-38s using the Droopsnoot method, bomb Tours Airfield. 11 P-38s fly escort and 1 P-38 is lost and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is missing in action.