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William Anderson-Family
to remember
Anderson, Homer C., TSgt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Zora
Last Address Lakeview Heights
Date of Passing Sep 29, 2005
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
TSgt. Homer Anderson enlisted on 31 October 1942 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
In the ETO, he served with "The Ragged Irregulars of Bassingbourn", of the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Bomb Squadron out of RAF Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England (AF Station 121), 8th Air Force. His service in England began on 17 July 1944.
Primarily, he flew with William Eblen's crew aboard the B-17 "Sweet 17 - The Spirit of St Louis". Also, flew missions aboard "Heigh Ho Silver" and the famous "Nine-O-Nine".
Other airmen in his squadron that he remembered were William Marler, his co-pilot, and other squadron mates including: Arvin Basnight, John Yavis, John Annes, Finis Johnson, Joe Doran, and John Weisgarber.
He was standing about 3 or 4 feet behind General "Possum" Hansell when that gentleman earned the "Rigid Digit Award" for landing about a hundred yards short of the runway in the grass. Homer had already finished his 32 missions and was just hanging around the barracks waiting for orders home when he was approached with an offer for the job. The general wanted to do his periodic qualification flight and Homer was told that he didn't have to act as his engineer but that it would be appreciated. Hence that near death experience occurred, after several others.
TSgt. Anderson was honorably discharged on 14 October 1945 at Scott Field, Illinois. He had returned to the States on 1 April 1945. The last operational missions of the 323rd was on 25 April 1945.
Other Comments:
Hunter. An uncanny expert marksman. Killed his first 17 deer with with 16 cartridges from the 8 mm German Mauser that he built up. Worked with father and five brothers for three years in their gunstock mill in Springtown, Arkansas after war, providing blanks for Bishop Gunstocks of Warsaw, Missouri. He was a farmer, dairy and beef, then poultry, broilers, and later turkeys. An avid treasure hunter and trail bike enthusiast.
He passed away from Congestive Heart Failure. He was interred in Brushy Cemetery, Cole Camp, Benton County, Missouri.
1944-1945, B-17 Flying Fortress
From Year 1944
To Year 1945
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
B-17 Flying Fortress Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications
Model Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Length 74.74 ft | 22.78 m Width 103.74 ft | 31.62 m Height 19.09 ft | 5.82 m Engine(s) 4 x Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines generating 1,200 hp each. Empty Weight 36,136 lbs | 16,391 kg MTOW 72,003 lbs | 32,660 kg Max Speed 287 mph | 462 km/h | 249 kts Max Range 2,001 miles | 3,220 km Ceiling 35,597 ft | 10,850 m | 6.7 miles Climb Rate 540.5 ft/min (164.7 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered dorsal turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered "belly" turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left front "cheek" position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right front "cheek" position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left waist position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right waist position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in radio operator's midship position (removed on later models) 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered chin turret (later models)
Maximum internal bombload of 7,983 kg (17,600 lbs). Accommodations 10 Operators United Kingdom and the United States of America.
