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 16th mission on May 28th, 1944 over Berlin, Germany piloting the B-17 - 'Ten Aces' (42-38178). Another day reporting the extensive loss of men and ships in just one days mission is unsettling. It again reminds me how very fortunate my father was on yet another dangerous mission over Germany.

The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated May 29th, 1944 states the previous days 8th Air Force bombing missions over Germany and France. Lt. Erickson and crew flying the B-17 - 'Ten Aces' (42-38178) contributed their part along with the 334th Squadron on the missions.

The headline reads:
Bombs Rain On Europe At Rate of 5 Tons a Minute
40 Hours See Blitz Reach Record Pace
1,200 U.S. Fighters Escort 1,000 Bombers Over Reich & France
Key To Nazi Front Below Rome Periled
Enemy Escape Road Shelled; New Drive For Capital Opened
Yanks Attack Valmontone After Seizing Artena;
Germans Are Rushing Their '2nd Front' Troops Into Action
D-Day Fever Has All U.S. Steamed Up

Also featured below are Lt. Erickson's hand written mission notes from May 28th, 1944 that read like fiction. They give an intimate view of some of what my father and crew were experiencing during the mission. Also a crew photograph below.

Mission #16 - May 28th, 1944
aboard the B-17 - 'Ten Aces' (42-38178)
B-17 received minor degrees of damage
Dessau, Poland - Magdeburg, Germany

Mission details:

1,341 bombers and 697 fighters are dispatched to hit oil targets in Germany & Poland. 32 bombers and 9 fighters are lost and they claim 64-30-31 Luftwaffe aircraft. 610 B-17s are dispatched against an oil targets at Ruhland/Schwarz-Heide (38 bomb) and an aircraft factory at Dessau (12 bomb); secondary targets are aviation factories at Zwickau (15 bomb) and Leipzig (28 bomb). 14 bombers hit Bohlen, 15 hit Meissen, 19 hit Brandis/Polenz Wusten-Sachsen Airfield, 12 hit Frankfurt marshaling yard, 32 hit Ubigau, 20 hit Dessau, 4 hit Frankfurt, 5 hit Camburg and 22 hit targets of opportunity. Bombers claim 20-21-18 Luftwaffe aircraft.

17 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 107 damaged. 3 airmen are killed in action, 15 wounded in action and 155 went missing in action. 255 B-17s are dispatched to an oil dump at Konigsburg/Magdeburg (105 bomb) and oil industry at Magdeburg/Rothensee (55 bomb). 17 bombers hit Dessau and 6 bomb the marshaling yard at Gera and they claim 16-8-6 Luftwaffe aircraft. 9 B-17s are lost and 64 damaged. 3 airmen are killed in action and 2 wounded in action and 90 are missing in action.

The Group attacked the bomber/fighter engine factories located at Dessau, Germany. The target was the center of the Junkers Aircraft Organization. This organization was primarily engaged in the development and in the experimental work on new as well as existing aircraft. The target had one of the highest priorities of all the remaining targets in Germany. For the second straight day, the bombers felt the wrath of the Luftwaffe.

The bomber stream consisted of fifteen combat wings. The flight was uneventful until the bomber stream separated at a point northeast of Brunswick. Then, the fifteen wings took up separate courses for the attacks on their separate targets. The Group was attacked at the IP by large forces of Me 109s and FW-190s.

The ship piloted by Lt. Clyde B. Knipfer, flying his 24th mission, was hit and dropped out of formation with No. 1 and No. 2 engines blazing. Lt. Knipfer and crew parachuted to the ground where all were picked up by the Germans and held as prisoners of war.

A second mass frontal attack was made on the Group. Waves of Ju-88s and Me-109s attacked from the side followed immediately by Me-109s and FW-190s. Lt. Rudolph Stohi's craft took a direct hit and left the formation. The craft crashed after the crew bailed out. One crewman died.

Lt. Bernard V. Conners' craft came back on one engine, two engines having been lost in the target area. Three cylinders on a third engine had been punctured by enemy flak. Conners had flown back at an air speed of 115 to 135 miles per hour, with just enough power to keep airborne.

Prior to reaching the target, the craft of the Air Commander, Major George C. Hozier, was attacked. One engine was damaged and set ablaze, and the wing fuel tank was punctured seriously, endangering the safety of the craft. In spite of the damaged condition of the craft, Major Hozier maintained the lead and when he found it impossible to visually bomb the Primary target, after making two 360 degree turns, led the Wing to the secondary target, an aircraft factory at Leipzig and bombed with excellent results.

For his gallant leadership, sound judgment and devotion to duty, Major Hozier was awarded the Silver Star. In addition to the enemy fighter opposition, the antiaircraft fire was moderate but accurate. A number of planes suffered damage. Gunners received credit for destroying one enemy aircraft and damaging five.