The day the invasion of mainland Europe began, June 6th, 1944 passes and the 8th Air Force continues deep into June's with it's continued assault on German armaments and factories. By June 21st my father had completed 24 missions of his eventual 35.

My father kept many things from his years in the Air Corps. Some things I had no idea that they existed. It's a truly amazing collection of photographs, documents, equipment and hundreds of letters and postcards I came upon soon after he passed. Lt. Erickson 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 soon after his combat flying became a flight instructor in the states.

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. My dad retrieved much of it over the years. I certainly enjoyed seeing the photographs whenever I had the opportunity. In late 2013 I began to seriously delve into this incredible archive. Much of it you can view 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 Lt. Erickson's 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 Lt. Erickson's 23rd and 24th missions over Hanover - Misburg and Fallersleben - Brunswick, Germany.

Also added is a photograph of the crew of the 'Lili of the Lamplight' (44-6085).

The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated June 21st, 1944 reports 8th Air Force activities against German oil refineries and other actions in the Pacific, Italy and Finland. Lt. Erickson and crew flying the B-17 'Lili of the Lamplight' (44-6085) contributed along with the 334th Squadron on mission pertaining to the reports.

The headlines read:
Cherbourg Defenses Entered
Calais, Reich Hit In record Aerial Blow
Over 1,500 U.S. Heavies Out; Robot Runways, Nazi Factories Pasted
Yanks Helping To Bag Nazi' Robot Planes
300 Japanese Planes Shot Down In Saipan Battle

Also featured below are Lt. Erickson's hand written mission notes from June 18th and 20th, 1944.

Of 488 B-24s, 168 hit Hamburg, 107 bomb Bremerhaven, 58 attack the Watten V-weapon sites, France, 54 hit Brunsbuttel, 45 hit Stade Airfield, 28 hit Wesermunde, 13 hit Husum Airfield, 9 hit Nordenham, 8 hit Heligoland Airfield, 5 hit targets of opportunity and 1 hits Wrist marshaling yard. 4 B-24s are lost and 53 damaged. 8 airmen are wounded in action and 39 are missing in action.

Escort is provided by 198 P-38s, 172 P-47s and 215 P-51s. 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and no losses or claims. VIII Fighter Command missions in France are 94 of 98 P-38s and 82 of 87 P-47s attack railroad bridges in the St Quentin area without loss. 47 P-51s make a sweep of the Dol de Bretagne area. 3 P-51s are lost (pilots are missing in action).

9 B-24s are dispatched on Carpetbagger missions (aerial supply of weapons and other material to French Resistance Fighters) in France. 1 B-24 hits tree at the drop zone.

Mission details: - June 20th, 1944

In the morning 1,548 bombers are dispatched to attack 14 strategic targets in Northern Germany and V-1 and V-2 weapon sites in France. 49 bombers are lost. 126 of 146 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area. 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 83 damaged. 4 airmen are killed in action, 8 wounded in action and 24 are missing in action.

Escort is provided by 44 P-47s. Fighters claim 3-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot is missing in action). Of 341 B-17s dispatched, 137 hit Fallersleben, 95 hit Magdeburg/Rothensee and 52 hit Konigsberg. Bombers claim 2-0-6 Luftwaffe aircraft. 6 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 116 damaged. 11 airmen are wounded in action and 60are missing in action. Of 191 B-24s, 169 hit Hannover/Misburg and 3 hit a target of opportunity. 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged. 4 airmen are killed in action, 6 wounded in action and 9 are missing in action.

Escort is provided by 98 P-38s, 86 P-47s and 38 P-51s and 81 Ninth Air Force P-51s. Fighters claim 10-1-10 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 8-0-3 on the ground. 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost (2 pilots are missing in action).

Of 512 B-17s dispatched, 107 hit Hamburg/Eurotank oil refinery, 60 hit Harburg/Ebano oil refinery, 54 hit Haburg/Schliemanns oil refinery, 53 hit Harburg/Rhenania oil refinery, 53 hit Hamburg/Deut.Petr, 50 hit Hamburg/Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery, 26 hit Hamburg/Schindler oil refinery, 12 hit Brunsbuttel canal lock and 2 hit targets of opportunity. 7 B-17s are lost and 349 damaged. 1 airman is killed in action, 13 wounded in action and 63 are missing in action.

Escort is provided by 96 P-38s and 48 P-47s without claims or loss. 4. Of 358 B-24s, 245 hit Politz, 71 bomb Ostermoor and 12 hit targets of opportunity. Bombers claim 10-3-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 B-24s are lost and 205 damaged. 3 airmen are killed in action, 6 wounded in action and 343 are missing in action. Escort is provided by 50 P-38s and 221 P-51s; they claim 28-1-9 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 5-0-9 on the ground. 3 P-38s are lost.

In the afternoon, 33 of 37 B-17s and 196 of 380 B-24s attack 10 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area. 1 B-24 is lost and 96 damaged. Escort is provided by 72 P-47s and 40 P-51s without loss. 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night. 25 B-24s fly Carpetbagger missions (aerial supply of weapons and other material to French Resistance Fighters) in France.