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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
Indiana | |
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Year of Birth
1907 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Sanders, Lewis Morgan (Lew, Ironass), Col.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town
Elkhart, Indiana; Lillian, Alabama |
Last Address
Lillian, Alabama
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Date of Passing
Dec 22, 1984 |
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Location of Interment
Pine Rest Cemetery - Foley, Alabama |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Not Specified |
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Last Known Activity
Not Specified
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Other Comments:
Citation for his Silver Star:
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Lewis M. Sanders, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot with the 46th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, at Wheeler Field and over the Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, and waters adjacent thereto, on 7 December 1941. During the surprise attack by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941, First Lieutenant Sanders took off with one flight for the purpose of attacking the invading forces, without first securing information as to the number or type of attacking Japanese aircraft. He proceeded to patrol the vicinity of Bellows Field, where he engaged six enemy planes. Although greatly outnumbered he succeeded in shooting down one enemy aircraft. First Lieutenant Sanders' initiative, presence of mind, coolness under fire, and expert maneuvering of his plane, contributed to a large extent toward driving off this sudden, unexpected enemy air attack.
General Orders: Authority: "Heroes of Pearl Harbor", Donald K. & Helen L. Ross
Action Date: December 7, 1941
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: First Lieutenant
Company: 46th Pursuit Squadron
Regiment: 15th Pursuit Group
Sources:
https://aviation.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-Handful-of-Pilots.pdf
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From Year
1943 |
To Year
1944 |
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Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications
StatsCentral
Model Bell P-39M Airacobra
Length 30.15 ft | 9.19 m
Width 33.99 ft | 10.36 m
Height 11.84 ft | 3.61 m
Engine(s) 1 x Allison V-1710-83 water-cooled engine generating 1,200hp.
Empty Weight 5,611 lbs | 2,545 kg
MTOW 8,400 lbs | 3,810 kg
Max Speed 386 mph | 621 km/h | 335 kts
Max Range 650 miles | 1,046 km
Ceiling 35,991 ft | 10,970 m | 6.8 miles
Climb Rate 3,333 ft/min (1,015.9 m/min)
Hardpoints 2
Armament 1 x 37mm cannon mounted in the nose
2 x 12.7mm machine guns
4 x 7.62mm machine guns
Up to 500lbs of external ordnance as needed.
Accommodations 1
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