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2nd Lt. Russell C. Anderson, O-818800, Co-Pilot, B-24, serial #42-50898, 732nd Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force. Killed in Action on 27 December 1944 when his B-24 crashed on take-off in heavy weather. Born on 16 August 1918, he entered the service on 5 December 1943 from Chicago, Illinois.
2nd Lt. Anderson was on his 9th mission when he was killed. He had participated in his first mission on 18 July 1944 when he bombed Caen, France. Following missions included Laupheim, Germany, the submarine pens in Cherbourge, France, chemical plants in Ludwigshaven, Germany, Fismes, France, Brunswick, Germany and Basdorf, Germany. 2nd Lt. Anderson became a member of the "Caterpillar Club" on 1 August 1944 when his B-24 lost power in two engines and the crew was forced to bail out over southern England. The entire crew received the Air Medal for this mission by General Order 209, HQ 2nd Bombardment Division, 28 August, 1944.
On the day of his death, he was the co-pilot with Lt. Roscoe C. Brown as pilot. The aircraft took off for a combat mission at 0827 hours in overcast weather which prevented people on the ground from seeing the aircraft as it took off. The Control Tower heard Lt. Brown say, "I cannot keep her up. We have had it." The aircraft crashed about 500 meters off the end of the runway and caught fire with the tail section breaking off. The bombs and machinegun ammunition cooked off with the bombs exploding 5 minutes after the crash. The tail gunner and two waist gunners survived the crash with the tail gunners, S/Sgt. Marvin G. Mackey and S/Sgt. Tommie F. Dickson, being recommended for the Soldier's Medal when the rescued the tail gunner from the burning wreckage of the tail section. The other 7 members of the crew were killed.
He is buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. He was 26 years old and married.
This photograph shows Lt. Anderson standing second from the left with his hands on his waist.