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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.


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 14th mission on May 13th, 1944 over Osnabruk, Germany piloting the B-17 - 'Mirandy' (42-31992).

Also featured below are his hand written mission notes from that day and a photo of Lt. Erickson standing below the B-17 (42-97858) "Lady Fortune (Carmen’s Folly)" at Horham Airfield in England in June of 1944. At the time (mid Summer 1944) he was a pilot of the B-17, 'Lili of the Lamplight' (44-6085) with the 334th Squadron.

The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated May 15th, 1944 reported the previous days 8th Air Force bombing in Italy and other actions in the differnt theaters of operation. Lt. Erickson and crew flying the B-17 - Mirandy (42-31992) contributed on the days mission.

The front page also has a photograph of General Dwight D. Eisenhower on a visit to an Allied military installation.

The headline reads:
Allies Gain In Italy; Brenner Line Cut
Strongpoints Taken In Big Battles Along Enemy's Gustav Line
Fierce German Resistance Marks Advance;
Forts Smash Viaduct To Sever Supply Artery To Land Front To South
Raids Now And Invasion
Next - Berlin
Prelude To Attack Is On, Nazis Say
U.S. Fighters In Sweep Into Poland



Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson's 1942 - 1945 Air Corps Biography


Mission #14 - May 13th, 1944
aboard the B-17 - Mirandy (42-31992)
B-17 received minor degrees of damage
Osnabruk, Germany

749 bombers and 737 fighters hit targets in Germany. 12 bombers and 5 fighters are lost. they claim 58-5-13 Luftwaffe aircraft. 289 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil targets in Western Poland, but clouds force 215 to bomb Stettin and 57 to hit Stralsund. 10 bombers are lost and 81 damaged. 1 airman is killed in action 1 wounded in action and 88 are missing in action.

199 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshaling yard at Osnabruck. 178 hit the primary and 1 bomb a target of opportunity. 1 B-17 is lost and 61 damaged. 2 airmen are wounded in action and 10 are missing in action.

261 B-24s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Tutow. 228 hit the primary and 12 hit targets of opportunity. 1 B-24 is lost and 2 damaged. 1 airman is wounded in action and 10 are missing in action.

Escort is provided by 153 P-38s, 238 P-47s and 346 P-51s. The P-47s claim 14-2-9 Luftwaffe aircraft, while the P-51s claim 33-1-4. 1 P-38, 2 P-47s and 2 P-51s are lost. 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 5 P-38s and 7 P-51s are damaged. 1 pilot is wounded in action and 5 are missing in action.



Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson's 35 Missions & 12 B-17s Piloted List





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© Mark Erickson 2018 All rights reserved.

This copyrighted material may not be republished without permission.
Contact via Email @ Mark Erickson or visit his website @
http://markerickson.com/Family_History
Links are encouraged.



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