Thomas Elmer Sanderson Jr

Military

Thomas Sanderson was on board B-17 Serial 42-31466 when it was shot down on the 29 May 1944 mission to Leipzig Germany. Evaded capture for more than 3 months with the help of Belgian citizens and members of the Comète escape network. Hidden with his fellow crew members in a secret camp in the Belgian Ardennes, awaiting the Liberation. On 7 September 1944, the camp was raided by Germans and Sanderson and the other crew members managed to escape, except Dobson who was captured and sent to Germany. Liberated by US troops on 8 September 1944. See the story of Sanderson's evasion at https://www.evasioncomete.be/fsanderte.html

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Kenneth Henry Dobson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31159023
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Togglier

Alexander Engleman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12064547
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Solomon Goldstein

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32711732
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Paul Eugene Goodling

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33238118
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Gordon Alvin Grip

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-703243
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

A battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-A, serial number 42-31466) of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group at Manston, 17 April 1944. Official caption on image: "754(44) - W.P.U. - 4-17-44 - Manston - Battle Damage - B-17G 42-31455 - R.Z. FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse: '390th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division.' On reverse: Photographic Section USAAF Station 595 [Stamp].

42-31466

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sitting Pretty
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

19 May 1923 Whitewright, Texas, United States

Other

evaded capture

29 May 1944 - 8 September 1944 Evaded capture for more than 3 months with the help of Belgian citizens and members of the Comète escape network. Hidden with his fellow crew members in a secret camp in the Belgian Ardennes, awaiting the Liberation.

Died

3 June 1997 herman, Grayson County, Texas
Whitewright, Grayson County, Texas, USA

Buried

Thomas Sanderson rests at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Whiteridge, Fannin County, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5314
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 1927
Research for his page at https://www.evasioncomete.be

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorSJolley
Changes
Sources

Changed from 'result unknown' to 'returned': MACR 5314

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5314 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database