m a r k e r i c k s o n p a i n t i n g s 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.
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The invasion of mainland Europe by the Allies is well underway and heading into August of 1944.The Allies are pushing east with the eventual intent of entering Germany. The 8th Air Force continues hammering away with it's assaults on German oil refineries, armaments, manufacturing and marshaling yards. By July 28th, 1944 Lt. Erickson had completed 29 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 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 Lt. Erickson's 29th missions over Merseburg / Leuna, Germany. You will also find his hand written mission notes from that July 28th. A photograph of Lt. Erickson in August 1944 at Foggia Airfield in Italy inside the cockpit of an abandoned Luftwaffe JU-88 bomber. The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated July 29th, 1944 reports 8th Air Force activities over Germany. Other actions in various theaters of the war are also reported. 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 over France.
The headlines read:
Mission #29 - July 28th, 1944 The second force of 111 B-24s is dispatched to hit Brussels and Vilvorde fuel and supply depots. 8 B-24s are damaged and escort is provided by 40 of 53 P-51s. 766 B-17s are dispatched to bomb the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg, Germany. 652 hit the primary while 36 hit Leipzig/Taucha oil refinery, 18 hit the Wiesbaden marshaling yards and 8 hit targets of opportunity. Bombers claim 1-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft. 7 B-17s are lost and 217 damaged; 1 airman is killed in action, 7 are wounded in action and 67 are listed as missing in action. Escort is provided by 386 P-38s and P-51s. Fighters claim 4-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft. 2 P-51s are lost and 3 are damaged. 3 pilots are missing in action.
6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night. |
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