The invasion of mainland Europe by the Allies was deep into the Summer of 1944 and
the Allies were pushing from the west and the eastward with the full intention of
sandwiching the Germans down to a nub. The 8th Air Force continues hammering away,
mission and after mission with it's assaults on German oil refineries, armaments,
manufacturing and marshaling yards. By August 22nd, 1944, Lt. Erickson had completed
34 missions of his eventual 35. He and the crew awaited completion of their tour of combat
flying which would occur on August 26th, 1944.
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 34th missions over Toulouse, France. You will also
find his hand written mission notes from that August 12th mixed in with his full mission
lists he accumulated from March 27th through August 26th, 1994. The 26th of August was
the day he completed his 35th and final mission.
Another image below is an in-flight photograph Lt. Erickson took in August 1944 during the
10 day shuttle mission run from England to the Ukraine back through Italy and finally a return
to Horham Airfield in England.
The front page of The Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated August 22nd, 1944 reports the
first acknowledgement of the 8th Air Force Carpetbagger missions (aerial supply of weapons
and other material to French Resistance Fighters). Other actions in various theaters of the war
are also mentioned. 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:
'Chuting of Supplies To Maquis By 8th Air Force Heavies Is Disclosed
Yanks Pouring Across Seine
Patton's Men Reach Versailles; Paris Patriots Battle Germans
France - Spain Border Area Is Fled By Nazis
Nazis Official Says 'Capital Will Be Spared
Mission #34 - August 12th, 1944
aboard the B-17 - 'Lili of the Lamplight' (44-6085)
B-17 received “extensive” battle damage
Toulouse, France
Mission details:
This is the last leg of the shuttle-bombing mission from England - USSR - Italy - England. Of the 72 B-17s
taking off from 15th Air Force base in Foggia, Italy 3 B-17s have various problems and the others bomb
Toulouse/Francazal Airfield in France and then proceed back to England.
62 P-51s (part of the shuttle-mission force) and 43 from England provide escort. No aircraft are lost. 70
B-17s and 58 P-51s land in England. 5 B-17s and 6 P-51s, either left in Italy or returning there during this
mission, subsequently return to England.
6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night. 486 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s attack transportation
targets in the Paris and Brussels areas. Fighters claim 5-0-0 aircraft in the air and 13-0-0 on the ground.
1 P-38s, 5 P-47s and 7 P-51s are lost (pilots are reported as missing in action). 220 P-47s and P-51s attack
transportation targets in Northeast France. 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are reported as missing in action) and
3 are damaged beyond repair.
