Fortunes of time and memory comes around sometimes and they have again for my father Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson of the 95th Bombardment Group and 334th Squadron. After many decades his 1943-1945 uniform and leather A-2 Air Corps jacket have returned to Horham Airfield in England.

Below are the photographs Quentin Brundle of the 95th took at the Red Feather Club Museum. Many thanks to Quentin and others at Horham for the beautiful display of my father's jackets, his photographs and the other items. My father's spirit again takes to the skies over the English landscape of Eye, Diss and Horham.

My family is very grateful to the 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation. Along with that they accepted last year with the donation of my father's flight goggles, cap and flight bag bearing the 8th Air Corps patch, these two jackets fit in nicely. I encourage anyone interested in the 8th Air Force to visit Horham.

Much appreciation has to go to Phil Samponaro of the 95th in the states who has assisted me countless times over the years in gaining new insights into the 95th and other details concerning my father's involvement with the Air Corps between 1942 and 1945. His support in my Archive Project is greatly appreciated.

The Archive Project of Lt. Erickson's myriad of photographs, letters and documents can be seen in the dozen or so pages on this site. Phil facilitated the acquisition of the A-2 jacket for Horham and was instrumental in my excitement and confidence gained in the 95th to donate further items to the group.

Lt. Erickson was stationed at Horham Airfield between February through late October 1944. He was a B-17 pilot and accomplished 35 missions between March 27th and August 26th, 1944.

The ship he often called, "his Lucky Lady," was the 'Lili of the Lamplight' (44-6085) in which he flew 15 of his last 16 missions aboard. His final mission on August 26th, 1944 was piloting the ship 'Stand By / Goin' My Way' (42-107204). Unfortunately with another crew aboard the 'Lili of the Lamplight' was shot down on a mission over Politz, Germany and crashed into Poland on August 25th, 1944. Three crew members were killed and seven were captured by the Germans, spending the duration of their service as prisoners of war.

The link below shows Mick Stannard and Darren Smith of the 95th in England accepting the A-2 jacket from Phil at the October 4th, 2017 reunion in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Here are the names and numbers of the twelve ships piloted by Lt. Erickson between March and September of 1944 out of Horham Airfield, England.

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

Photographs by Quentin Brundle of the 95th BG Memorials Foundation at Horham, England

The last image below is called, 'Mayhem Over Berlin.' The piece is a fitting title for a circumstance very few of us would ever imagine encountering ourselves. Yet this scenario is another incredibly intense situation my father experienced during his combat flying days in England in 1944. I grew up contemplating what it must have felt like flying a B-17 in combat. In this commissioned painting, that late morning over Berlin can be sensed in it's chaotic imagery.

The original concept came from a page from my father Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson's mission notes from May 24th, 1944 on a mission over Berlin. I include that sheet here beneath the painting. The words he writes are filled with intensity and action. To imagine being up there with him and the crew is awe inspiring.