World War II Honoree

Bernard I. Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ratoul, Illinois

Honored By

Bend Heroes Foundation

2ND LIEUTENANT, ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 10 NOVEMBER 1939 IN RATOUL, ILLINOIS. AFTER EARNING HIS PILOT’S WINGS, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 445TH BOMB GROUP, 703RD SQUADRON WHERE HE WOULD BE STATIONED AT TIBENHAM AIRFIELD IN TIBENHAM, ENGLAND. AS A B-24 PILOT, HIS MISSIONS WOULD INVOLVE BOMBING TARGETS SUCH AS SYNTHETIC OIL PLANTS, CHEMICAL WORKS, MARSHALLING YARDS, AIRFIELDS, AN AMMUNITION PLANT, UNDERGROUND OIL STORAGE FACILITIES, AND FACTORIES. HIS UNIT RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE ALLIED CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GERMAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY DURING FROM 20-25 FEBRUARY 1944, ATTACKING AN AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT GOTHA, GERMANY ON 24 FEBRUARY 1944. HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN DURING THIS MISSIONS AND HE SPENT THE DURATION OF THE WAR AS A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR IN STALAG LUFT 1 BARTH-VOGELSANG, PRUSSIA. HE WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.