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Best Friends Sep 6th, 1944 - 19th Combat Mission: Nyireghaza M/Y Hungary (Hours: 5:40) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Good bombing - no enemy seen - Voss my wingman.
1st Lt. Leonard D. Voss and 2nd Lt. Vernon B. Kahl
Feb 12th, 1945: Rome (Hours: 0:50) - Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Co-pilot on B-17 for Capt. Rensmer: Pete, Ty and I went to Rome. - Souvenir: In Sheldon's belongings there was a Battle Bracelet (Italian Campaign), apparently purchased in Rome.
Best Moment Oct 16th, 1944 - 31st Combat Mission: Brux Czechoslovakia: (Hours: 5:30) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Went passed target into Germany. Shot 5 planes (1 probable) down. Memo: Came upon two groups of about 48 each of ME's and FW's - was about 2000 ft above them so "S" over them to identify them and then worked the flight up into the sun and made the pass, got three and had a fight with two more as I tried to leave for home, got both. After Lt. Anderson returned from his 31st Combat Mission, he claimed he shot down 5 enemy aircraft in a 5 minute aerial battle. 5 confirmed kills would give "ACE" status. Intelligence and Operations Officers reviewed the combat camera film from Lt. Anderson's P-51 Mustang. They determined and reported: "Lt. Anderson destroyed three enemy fighters, probably destroyed another and damaged a fifth fighter" (Statement from 325th Fighter Group / 319th Fighter Squadron website) One flight of the 319th P-51's led by Lt. S.K. Anderson distinguished itself with what is probably the most outstanding and gallant success of it's kind in our history. During an escort mission against the Brux O/R in Czechoslovakia, a large force of enemy fighters was observed to the west of the bomber formation. Climbing into the sun, Lt. Anderson led his flight of 4 P-51's in an attack upon the enemy force which consisted of approximately fourth-eight Me-109s and FW-190s. In the aerial battle that followed, Lt. Anderson destroyed three enemy fighters, probably destroyed another and damaged a fifth fighter while members of his flight destroyed three more. Despite the enemy's superiority of 12 to 1, the P-51's suffered no losses. 'ACE" status was not granted to Lt. Anderson. Letter from Sheldon to his parents, dated Oct 17th, 1944. Sheldon wrote about this mission and what he encountered. (See Newspaper Articles: 31 Combat Mission) 2nd Lt. Anderson was presented with the "Distinguished Service Cross" medal.
Worst Moment Mar 13th, 1945 - 54th Combat Mission: (Mission Not Recorded in his Flight Log) Record states: Capt. Anderson was on a strafing mission to Germany. Report: Capt Anderson's squadron was on a combat mission over Southern Germany. Capt. Anderson's P-51 Mustang engine was hit by enemy ground fire and eventually set his engine afire. Capt. Anderson bailed out at a safe altitude and his chute opened. His squadron commander saw him land in a wooded area approximately thirty miles south southeast of Salzburg, Austria. MACR: 13003 (Missing Air Crew Report): Dated: 03/13/1945, P-51D, Aircraft no: 44-15378, No. 76, Honey Jo, Location: St. Johan-3mi NE, AUS - Crew: Sheldon Anderson, Pilot POW.
Chain of Command Lesina A.A.F. base, Italy: Mediterranean Theater of Operations and the Italian Campaign (World War II). Home of the 325th Fighter Group: "Checkertail Clan" from Aug 1942 through May 1945. Engaged primarily in escort operations for Heavy Bombers with the Fifteenth A.F., operations of reconnaissance aircraft and strafing missions. See www.checkertails.org and www.325fg.org websites. 319th Fighter Squadron
Other Memories Aug 22nd , 1944 - 11th Combat Mission: Odertah Refineries in Germany (Hours: 5:20) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Oil Refinery in Germany, no enemy aircraft. Memo: Lintz bailed out in Hungary. He said "Tell my crew chief not to worry my ship was O.K. Till now" He landed in farmers field and waved as flight buzzed him.
Oct 11th, 1944 - 28th Combat Mission: Hungary (Hours: 3:55) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: 2nd flight, Pete's my element leader couldn't get under weather at target. Memo: Locomotive blew up in front of Vedito's ship destroying it.
Oct 14th, 1944 - 30th Combat Mission: Blechammer Germany (Hours: 5:20) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: 5th flight, Saw B-24 crew bail out, then shot empty ship down. Memo: Saw two B-24's and watched the crew bail out and saw the empty ship floating around, made two passes and took pictures of ship blowing up on ground.
Nov 17th, 1944 - 34th Combat Mission: Brux Germany (Hours: 4:25) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Bombers unable to reach target, hit alternate. Memo: Lost "Bobo" Fisher and Dowiatt in air collision over field. Dowiatt spun down out of clouds into Fishers flight then went into lake and Fisher jumped but died from broken neck.
Nov 21st, 1944: Local (Hours: 1:20) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Training flight with some new pilots. Memo: Lost Whitmire who jumped over Yugoslovia - Block was never heard of as yet. 12 ships out of 17 were beat up and a couple more damaged from a strafing raid.
Dec 11th, 1944 - 37th Combat Mission: Vienna (Hours: 5:20) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: One of best bombing jobs I've seen. Engine trouble for me. Memo: Saw Vienna blasted: escorted B-24 to Yugoslovia then seen crew bail out as they could not maintain altitude: Nut came off camshaft causing one bank of cylinders to go out - just could maintain a shallow let down right to end of runway from middle of Adriatic.
Dec 26th, 1944 - 43rd Combat Mission: Blechhammer (Hours: 5:05) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Lead squadron to Blechammer - only section to reach target. Memo: Group leader and other squadron got lost east of target. Major Johnson and I escorted all the stragglers back to lake Belation. I led squadron first time and bombers right on nose. (Silesian Oil Knocked out)
Feb 5th, 1945 - 48th Combat Mission: Regensburg Germany (Hours: 6:45) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Led B-24 home under weather to field, just as he ran out of gas.
Feb 21st, 1945: Local (Hours: 2:45) Per Lt. Anderson's Note Book and Pilot Flight Log: Took movies of four ships, myself, Mason, Pete and Van. Movies converted to photos.
Feb 15th, 1945 - Lt. Anderson was promoted to the rank of "Captain".
Memory and Opinion of Sgt Brian R Rognstad:
Over the years in the Anderson household many stories of Sheldon were told while sitting around the dinner table and other family gatherings, one fitting story goes like this:
- One evening in downtown Kenosha, Sheldon and his girl friend "Honey" had been on a date and they were walking down the sidewalk. Up ahead of them was 3 or 4 guy's waiting in a alley, looking for someone to mug. When Sheldon and Honey got to the alley, these 3 or 4 guy's jump out and assaulted them. Little did these guy's know who they just assaulted, a few moments later the last man standing was Sheldon K. Anderson. Sheldon, a Golden Gloves "Diamond Belt Championship" Champion, just put a "World of Hurt" on these punks.
During Sheldon's time in the 319th Fighter Squadron he flew 54 Combat Missions. During these combat missions Sheldon and his P-51 Mustang "Honey Jo" did a lot of DAMAGE and put a "World of Hurt" on the Nazi War Machine.
Ref: Sheldon's 54th Combat Mission on Mar 13th, 1945 Report: Capt Anderson's squadron was on a combat mission over Southern Germany. Capt. Anderson's P-51 Mustang engine was hit by enemy ground fire and eventually set his engine afire. Capt. Anderson bailed out at a safe altitude and his chute opened. His squadron commander saw him land in a wooded area approximately thirty miles south southeast of Salzburg, Austria.
Ref: Letter from the War Department (Oct 22nd, 1945) Report: While attempting to make his way back to his base in Italy, he was captured by the enemy and was being transported north when he was killed in action 24 March 1945 near Durrenzimmern, Germany, while in German hands.
It's my opinion and I'm reading between the lines... His squadron commander saw him land in a wooded area and he was captured by the enemy and was being transported north when he was killed in action, while in German hands. To me, something happened while he was being transported north. Something happened inside that truck... very probable at the right moment, Sheldon put a "World of Hurt" on anyone and everyone inside that truck and I mean broken jaws, broken and fractured ribs, damaged internal organs and even death.
If that German policeman, Heinrich Otto had anything to do with Capt. Anderson's death it would be interesting to know if Mr. Otto or any of his comrades had received a sever physical beating on 24 March 1945.