Military
359th Original Crew. Pilot: Ellis J Sanderson. Sanderson crew - 359th BS B-17F Green Hornet aka Yahoodi #41-24603 (BN-Y) Original crew assigned 359BS: 10 Sep 1942 - photo: 10 Oct 1942. (Back L-R) 2Lt Ellis J Sanderson (P-POW); 2Lt Horace D. Bowman (CP-POW) 2Lt John W. Spence (N-EVD); 2Lt John W. Plummer (B)(1) (Front L-R) S/Sgt Sidney Devers (E-Evd), S/Sgt Miles B. Jones (R-Evd), Sgt Harry F. Swanson (RWG-POW), Sgt Frank W. Greene (BT-Evd) Sgt Joseph L Markiewicz (TG-KIA) (3). Not in photo: Sgt Carlos J Silva (LWG-POW)(2)
This letter was written to Frank W. Greene on November 17, 1943 from Sid Devers. The were on the mission together when their plane went down.
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso Texas and arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft on 22-Oct-42.
Shot down 23 January 1943 in B-17F #41-24603 'Green Hornet' while serving as Pilot. Losses states that flak knocked out 3 engines and ac was attacked by FW 190s. Except for 1Lt Sanderson and Co-Pilot Bowman, all crew bailed out. The pilots decided to stay in the plane as only 1 parachute was available. Crash landed near Motreff, France and he became a Prisoner of War (POW).
Participated in 9 Operations (3 were aborted) See Biography events.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Co-Pilot of B-17F #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso Texas and arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft on 22-Oct-42.
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Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24603 "Green Hornet" [BN-Y], 303BG/359BS was assigned with a combat crew on 10-Sep-42 at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas then moved to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine 9-Oct-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
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17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
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30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 26 October 1917 | |
| Assigned to Aircraft | Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA | 10 September 1942 |
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Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 22 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS |
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| Mission #1, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #2, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. MAJ Romig served as CMP on this mission. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #7, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #8, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Prisoner of War (POW) | Zagan, Poland | 23 January 1943 – 19 May 1945 |
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Held at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia (now Poland) moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 19-May-45. |
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| Mission #9, 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson, w/B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - WIA/POW | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft was heavily damage by flak, but 1LT Sanderson along with CP 2LT Bowman crashlanded the aircraft. 1LT Sanderson was WIA and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW) |
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| Buried | Villa Ridge, Pulaski County, Illinois, USA | July 1999 |
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Cairo City Cemetery |
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| Died | 4 July 1999 | |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 February 2020 02:42:41 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 October 2019 19:14:10 | jmoore43 | Changes to middlename and events |
| Sources | ||
Added middle name, birth, death & Burial info per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 197588853. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 18:20:26 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Correcting typos in Mission #9 event. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 18:13:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 18:10:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 18:04:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 18:01:47 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:59:34 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:56:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:54:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:51:29 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:49:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:44:34 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:42:10 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 17:38:54 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added initial assignment to aircraft and arrival in UK to Summary Biography; made connections to all mission participations per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 January 2015 18:08:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to service number, biography, awards, events, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Jan-2015. Added SN, decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Made connections to PLace, Aircraft and Mission within website data; Edited biography and added crew position per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. No MACR for this loss. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:08:50 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 66, 303rd web site |
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