William N. Anderson
Major, U.S. Army Air Forces

William N. Anderson was born on 29 April 1918 in Taylorville, IL. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at East Saint Louis, IL, on 11 September 1940, as an Aviation Cadet.

On 1 August 1943, Major William N. Anderson was serving as Pilot of a B-24 Liberator Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'The Flying Eightballs,' Ninth Air Force (Attached) in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, MAJ Anderson's aircraft was participating in a bombing mission against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, MAJ Anderson flew through heavy enemy fire against impossible odds, and then brought his crew safely back to base without the loss of a single man. The courageous actions, flying skills and extraordinary heroism displayed by MAJ Anderson on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

MAJ Anderson was on a mission to bomb V-1 sites at Agathe d' Aliermont, France, on 21 January 1944 in the B-24J Liberator bomber 'Liberty Belle' (Serial Number 42-99970), when it was hit by flak from anti-aircraft guns. The 'Liberty Belle' managed to return to England but had a mid-air fire and crashed upon landing at Wingham, Kent, England (USAAF Station AAF-419). MAJ Anderson was Killed in Action (KIA) in the crash. [See photo]

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 3
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Senior Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Major (Air Corps) William N. Anderson, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Major Anderson flew through heavy enemy fire against impossible odds, and then brought his crew safely back to base without the loss of a single man. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Major Anderson on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 90 (1943)

Burial

Major William N. Anderson is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville, Christian County, IL, in Block 26, Lot 178.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=125536448