Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson wore a leather A-2 Army Air Corps jacket that he acquired upon receiving his wings in October of 1943 at Blackland Airfield in Texas. Between October and December when they left the states flying the North Atlantic route to England, the crew was assembled. They were given a brand new B-17G at Langley Airfield in Virginia and quickly became accustomed to their new beauty.

Soon after he and the crew arrived at Horham Airfield in England flying with the 95th Bomb Group my father had the Red Feather icon painted on the front by a crew member.

In August of 1944 a graphic (attached below) was painted on the back depicting their ship's name, the 'Lili of the Lamplight' with 35 bomb images representing the 35 missions they accomplished between March and late August of 1944.

Lt. Erickson flew with the 334th Squadron and piloted twelve ships while 'Lili of the Lamplight' (44-6085) was always considered their main ship.

The twelve B-17s flown: Lili of the Lamplight (44-6085) * Taint A Bird II (42-30342) Fireball Red (42-31876) * Able Mable (42-31920) * Mirandy (42-31992) Gen'ril Oop & Lili Brat (42-31993) * Ten Aces (42-38178) Smilin' Sandy Sanchez (42-97290) * Paisano (42-102450) * Stand By / Goin' My Way (42-107204) The Doodle Bug / What’s Cookin? (42-107047) * To Hell Or Glory (42-38123).

On May 31st, 1944 the crew flew their 18th mission aboard the 'Lili of the Lamplight.' It became their ship and so named by the crew not long after their first few missions. My father flew most of his remaining missions abroad the 'Lili.'