William N Anderson

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-14538.jpeg UPL 14538 Liberator B-24D, 4240172, Lynn Bari II, in the 506th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, "The Flying 8 Balls", in the 8th Air Force, TDY to the 9th Air Force. Flown on the low level Ploesti mission by the crew in the photo, returning safely to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug 1943.

Rear - L to R : SSgt. George E Hartney - Lt. Ronald S. Allen - Capt William N Anderson - Lt. Stanley F. Olson - Lt. Charles M. Shaw - Cpl. Victor A. McMenamin.

Front - L to R : Cpl. Clifford C. Hurst - SSgt Oscar Ferkauff - TSgt. Walter N. Goodson - Sgt. J. R. Bell - SSgt. Allie T. Hearne Jr.

Removed punctuation from aircraft name for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 14538 - Liberator B-24D, 4240172, Lynn Bari II, in the 506th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, "The Flying 8 Balls", in the 8th Air Force, TDY to the 9th...

Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF.



Flew on 1-Aug-43 raid on Ploesti in B-24 42-40172 earning his DSC for his actions.



Flew as Command pilot on mission to V-1 sites at Agathe d' Aliermont, France 21-Jan-44; A/C hit by flak, Major Anderson was mortally wounded in the back and legs and succumbed to his wounds before the A/C reached the UK. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8714



Awards: DSC, DFC, AM (3OLC), PH, EAME (2 battle stars).



DSC Citation: Major (Air Corps) William N. Anderson, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Major Anderson flew through heavy enemy fire against impossible odds, and then brought his crew safely back to base without the loss of a single man. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Major Anderson on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.



General Orders: Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 90 (1943)

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16037239
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Taylorsville, Illinois 29 April 1918

Enlisted

East Saint Louis, IL 11 September 1940 He enlisted in the USAAC at East Saint Louis, Illinois, on 11-Sep-40, as an Aviation Cadet.

Other

Killed in action

Boulogne, France 21 January 1944 Flew as Command pilot on mission to V-1 sites at Agathe d' Aliermont, France 21-Jan-44; A/C hit by flak, Major Anderson was mortally wounded, succumbed to wounds. KIA. MACR 8714

Buried

22 January 1944 Interred Cambridge American Cemetery

Buried

Oak Hill Cemetery Taylorville, Christian County, IL Re-Interred Oak Hill Cemetery Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois

Based

Shipdham Assigned to 506BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF.

Based

Shipdham 21 January 1944 Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF.
Christian County, IL Christian County, Illinois

Revisions

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a unit connection to the 9th AF.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added the awards mentioned in the "Summary biography" section.

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ploesti by Dugan & Stewart, 8th AF Losses, MACR 8714

William N Anderson: Gallery (1 items)