Arlis Anderson 1916-1943

To: Mr. & Mrs. O.D. Anderson

Dallas, Texas

Sat Eve:

Hello Folks: These are Oklahoma Mosquitos. I took my first ride in No. 28; you should

see me in my flying suit, I look like an Eskimo- they're all wool lined, for winter. We hit the

flying line at 8:15 am this week, next week it will be the evening shift. When we start

ground school Mon., we'll really have to study hard - won't have much spare time, they say. Popped Too.

 Arlis

2nd Lt. A.K. Anderson

A.A.B.

Salt Lake City, Utah

To: O.D. Anderson

Dallas, Texas

Mon. nite

Hi Folks:

Will probably get our new orders tomorrow. This town is surrounded by big mts. We went to show tonite, saw "Flying Tigers", in town. Is nice town.

Arlis

Sun Nite

11:00 P.M.

Dear Folks:

I'm afraid I don't get to write very often; But I give all the news to Mom, and I'm always glad to hear from you. I hope all the kids are o.k., I dreamed Jenny Lou messed up my Navigator's kit the other nite, I dont remember whether I spanked her or not.

I'm sending some papers that we had to fill out; Owen you can put them in your Safety Deposit box. You needn't mention.  We still have snow on the ground from last Wed., it looks pretty at night in the moonlite, especially from up in the air.  Owen, I've been firing the 50 caliber some at ground targets. You really have to get a good toe hold for a prop to hang in to one of those babies, you would get a kick out of it.

In a couple of weeks or so, I might come sailing thru Dallas on a cross country hop. We want to visit our home towns, when we start taking long hops.

This is a wide open town, here, with bars and gambling rooms at the nite clubs. I won $5.00 playing roulette, the other night - of course I'll lose it next time.

Cheerio,

Arlis

P.S. Have Big Thanksgiving

Arlis home on leave with his Ford.   His brother Owen was given it after his death.  It was passed on to his son,  Karl "Buddy" Anderson after his death.   Buddy still has it in his possession.

Arlis and mother outside of family home  on 5531 Mercedes, Dallas, TX

Lt. A.K. Anderson

462 Squadron

AAB Casper, Wyo

To: Mr. & Mrs. O.D. Anderson

Dallas, Texas

Dec 26 1.01 pm

Hi Folks:

Thanks a lot for the billfold, just what I needed, because I have so many different passes and  indentification caards. I sent a photo, hope you like it alright - guess you could use 5 gal. gas, more, though. I had pretty nice x-mas; no snow till last nite.

As ever,

Arlis

Hello folks, from jolly ole England, how goes it. I just lost my 20 shillings, and got out of a crap game, at the other end of the barracks. My opinion of England is still, that its just a rare old antique; worth seeing, but thats all. Picadilly Circus is usually where we go, in London. You've no doubt heard of the Picadilly girls; we have one of the Coldstream Guards to beat them off, unless of course, they're good looking. They're all glad to see a Yank Coming, here, because they always have more money to spend than anyone else. Don't see many pretty girls here; the cutest ones, are the Wasfs; have talked to some of them on the Subways, 10:30, have just blacked out, it isn't dark until 11:00 o'clock.     Cheerio, 

Lieut: Arlis K. Anderson, 25, navigator on a Flying Fortress has been reported missing in actin after a raid over Germany, July 26 according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs F.H. Anderson, 5531 Mercedes, Dallas.

Lieutenant Anderson enlisted in the Army Air Forces eighteen months ago and has been stationed overseas for about five weeks. He was squadron navigator and unit oxygen officer for a combat group.

He is a graduate of North Dallas High School and a member of the Highland Baptist Church there.

Lient. Anderson is well-known in this county where the family formerly lived. He was born at Altoga and attended the public schools there and at Frisco. A number of relatives still reside in the county, he being a nephew of John K. Wilson of Princeton, C. King, Mrs. George Tree and Mrs. J.C. Trantham, all of Blue Ridge.

1lt Theo R Harris   P  POW
2lt Everett H Hiatt  CP  MIA
1lt  Arlis  K Anderson N KIA
1lt Jack W Milles   B   POW
sgt Alvin K Wrobel  E POW
t/sgt Waren J Dinardi  RO  POW
s/sgt George J Hrubovcak Jr  BTG  KIA
s/sgt John A Leaf  LWG  POW
s/sgt Howard F Sloop  RWG  MIA
s/sgt Chester V Beres  TG   POW
maj Berkeley I Springfield KIA (549BS)

Secret

Headquarters

Three Hundred Eighty Fifth Bombardment Group (H)

Office of the Satiatical Officer

AAF Station 155 APO 634

July 29, 1943

Subject:  Description of Plane Losses on Mission July 26, 1943

TO:        Commanding General, Eighth Air Force, APO 633

             Attention: Statistical Control

1.  A study of the Intelligence Interrogations for the mission of July 26 indicates the following:

 A.  Ship 42-5895 was seen to attempt to ditch but it is thought that it exploded before hitting the water.  Another report indicates that from 4 to 7 men may have parachuted safely from this ship.

B.  Ship 42-30279 blew up while in the air.  It was seen to be burning before it blew up.  Five parachutes were observed coming from this plane, and one crew reported a boat below that may have picked some men up.

 C.  Ship 42-30281 was seen to blow up before hitting the water.  It had been on fire and seemed to be trying to ditch.  No parachutes are reported from this plane.

For the Commanding Officer:

Edward A Stern

1st Lt AC

Ass't Statistical Officer

1st Ind.

COMMANDING GENERAL, EIGHT AIR FORCE, APO. 633, 2 August, 1943.       

TO:  Commanding General, Hq. SOS, ETOUSA, APO, 871, U.S. Army.

Forwarded in accordance with 1st Ind. File No. AC.360.33 (5-23-43) dated 3 June 1943.

For the Commanding General:

S.C. Burke

Major, A.G.D.,

Asst.Adj. Gen.

Location of Ships Lost

385 Bomb GP

July 26, 1943

The Air Medal has been posthumously awarded to First Lt. Arlis K. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Anderson, 5531 Merceded Ave. for galiantry in action whild participating in a fight as lead navigator of the 548th Bombardment Squardon over Germany on July 26, 1943.

On the return to his base, Lt. Anderson shot down one enemy aircraft before being forced to bail out over the North Sea.   Mrs. Anderson has been presented the award.  Besides his parents, Lt. Anderson is survived by three sisters, Mrs. O.E. Bryan, Mrs. Joe H. Suggs and Mrs. Velma Chapman; one brother, Owen D. Anderson.

Memorial Service:. From Highland Baptist Church

Historical Publishing Company  Volume 2 Page 528

1st Lt. Arlis K. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Anderson, born June 24, 1916, attended

North Dallas High School, and was a member of Highland Baptist church. Volunteered for

service January 22, 1942, was assigned to the Army Air Corps and received his training at

Ellington and Kelly Fields; sailed for overseas June 20, 1943. He flew missions over

France, Holland and Norway. Was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal With one Bronze

Star, Victory Medal. Aviation Badge Navigator, EAME Campaign Ribbon. While on a

mission over Hanover, Germany, his plane was lost in the North Sea, July 6, 1943.

American Battle Monuments Commission

The World War II Honor Roll

Arlis K. Anderson

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

0-664864

548th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group,

Heavy

Entered the Service from : Texas

Died: July 26, 1943

Missing in action or Buried at Sea

Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American

Cemetery

Margraten, Netherlands

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

I have added a story page on my Uncle Phillip L. Daffron.  Arlis and Phil were close friends.  One went to Europe, the other to Hawaii/Pacific.  One came home.

http://www.footnote.com/page/3309/pearl_harbor_survivor_phillip_l/