Sator Sierra Sanchez

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Completed 44 missions with the 95th BG and had B-17 #42-97290 'Smilin' Sandy Sanchez' named after him. Returned to the 15th AAF and completed another 22 missions before being shot down over Germany on 15 March 1945. Sanchez was Killed in Action (KIA).



In 1943, Sanchez was the holder of a new European theater record of 44 heavy bomber missions. In his honor, a Flying Fortress has been named 'Smillin' Sandy Sanchez'.

He also has a display at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.



In the city where he was born Joliet, Illinois, there is park named in his honor and a sculpture of a Top Turret Gunner. And new grade school name after him.



Silver Star, DFC,Soldier's Medal, Purple Heart w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, AM w/ 8 Oak Leaf Cluster



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Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Smilin' Sandy Sanchez
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Joliet, IL, USA 22 March 1921

Died

15 March 1945

Buried

His name is on the Tablets of the Missing.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / relative