Lt. Roy L. Anderson, my uncle (shown here sitting in the cockpit of a B-25H known as "Dutch" in mid-1944), was a brand-new combat B-25 pilot who flew with squadrons of the 42nd Bombardment Group (Medium), 13th Air Force, in the South and Southwest Pacific during 1944 and 1945. He did most of his combat flying while assigned to the 100th BS from June through late December 1944, after which he flew with the 70th BS until he finished his combat missions in January 1945 and rotated home in April 1945. During much of that time, Roy mostly flew as a 2LT co-pilot, often right seat to 1LT Donald Robertson, although he eventually earned his own 1LT bars and the experience to fly "left seat" (i.e., as a pilot and aircraft commander).
Provided here is what I've been able to ascertain about the specific missions that Roy flew on, as well as information about a couple of specific crews that he was a part of. (There were no fixed crews per se that always flew together, as most folks wanted to get home and therefore volunteered to fly on whatever missions the Operations Officer needed them for as part of his rotation. But my understanding is that there still was nonetheless a 'crew' that more often than not flew together as least in part.)
This web page also shows what might be possible in terms of research of World War II records given mostly luck, but also some persistence. In part this page documents how to do that research and what might be available for learning about your particular relative or friend who flew during the war, or a combat or training unit of interest to you.
All missions and flights listed below are while Roy was assigned to the 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), covering the period from October through December 1944, and with the 70th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), covering the period from late December 1944 through January 1945, all with the 42nd Bombardment Group (Medium). This record does not represent all missions and flights flown by Roy (he began combat flying on 19 June 1944 and finished combat flying on 20 January 1945), nor all those flown with the 100th BS and 70th BS, but just those for which I could find an Operations Order in the 100th BS archive that listed Roy on a plane's manifest or a Mission Report in the 70th BS listing Roy as pilot. (Not every mission had an operations order that were preserved in the 100th BS microfilm archive, and the archive for the 70th listed only pilot's names, which would have missed any mission that Roy flew as a co-pilot.)
The source for this information is AFHRA Microfilm Roll A0576, which archives the 100th BS(M) from May through December 1944, and AFHRA Microfilm Roll A0560, which archives the 70th BS(M) through May 1945.
In the listing of missions for the 100th BS, the typical order for listing crew members on an Operations Order is pilot (aircraft commander), co-pilot, navigator/bombardier, and the three enlisted gunners. If a fourth officer is listed, then likely a separate navigator and bombardier were assigned, or someone was along for training or as an observer. The target is listed where known. Mission numbers are squadron mission numbers, not Roy's personal combat mission numbers. In many cases there was more than one mission listed on an operations order, and it wasn't always possible to determine the specific mission a flight of planes was assigned to. I will add more information as it is uncovered from further review of the records.
In the listing of missions for the 70th BS, only the pilot's name was given in the Mission Report, and so the record here notes those missions that Roy was listed as pilot. Information given includes mission date, squadron mission number, target, the plane number for Roy's aircraft, and any additional notes I can give you.
Not every page in the microfilm record was clear and readable. Some names were only partially readable, so "best guess" attempts were made to match names to other apppearances in the same or other operation orders. (Those questionable names are marked with question marks.) Transcription errors are entirely my own responsibility.
Microfilm Frame #s |
Date/ Target |
Operations Order/ Mission Number |
Plane #/ Type |
Crew |
---|---|---|---|---|
Roy begins flying in the SW Pacific on 15 May 1944, first with the 390th Bombardment Squadron, and then the 100th BS, although initially for further training and familiarization. His first operational combat mission appears to have been on 19 June 1944. At this point I don't know any more about these missions, as records only listed pilot's name. Roy was flying as co-pilot for most of these missions, and therefore is not listed. He spent time in B-25H models (the one with the 75mm cannon) through September, and then the squadron transitions to primarily new J models. | ||||
1333 | 1 Oct 1944 Target Manado Town (medium altitude) |
OO #60 Mission 96 |
"093" (B-25J) |
Bishop, J.W., 1LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Darling, N.R., 2LT Sanford, H.D., T/Sgt Bergmeyer, G.L., S/Sgt McNabb, J.I., S/Sgt |
1322 | 2 Oct 1944 Target Laha Runway #2 (medium altitude) |
OO #61 Mission 97 |
"029" (B-25J) |
Henson, James B., Major Anderson, R.L., 2LT Renfroe, Lawrence W., Capt. Schaade, J.E., 1LT Dreazy, Francis, S/Sgt Tomberlin, J.H., Sgt Bodrero, Glen L., S/Sgt |
1316-1321 | 3 Oct 1944 Target Kaoe Runway #2 (medium altitude) |
OO #62 Mission 99 |
"983" (B-25J) |
Anderson, R.L., 2LT Robertson, Donald C., 1LT Ward, Jesse E., 2LT Dreazy, Francis, S/Sgt Tomberlin, J.H., Sgt Bodrero, Glen L., Sgt |
7 Oct 1944 - Roy gets R&R to Sydney, Australia, for 7 days. Operations Order #60A (dated 4 October 1944, from Roy's personal records) list the following crew manifest: Plane# "076", Robertson, Donald C., 1st Lt (P), Anderson, Roy L., 2nd Lt (CP), Tolhurst, Harland R., 2nd Lt (B), Tomberlin, James M., S/Sgt (E), Dreasy [sic], Francis R., S/Sgt (R), Bodrero, Glen L., Sgt (G), Nussear, William C., 2nd Lt (X), Kuban, Frank Pvt. (X), Stegall, Ozro K., M/Sgt (CC). The route to be taken is Sansapor-Noemfoor-Horn Island-Townsville-Sydney. The order is stamped as arriving in Sydney on the 7th. A different crew, just finishing their R&R, flew the same plane back to Sansapor. Roy did not save the Operations Order for his trip back to Sansapor. |
||||
1204-1207 | 22 Oct 1944 Shipping Sweep |
OO #80 Mission 126 |
"085" (B-25J) |
Robertson, Donald C., 1LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Ward, Jesse E., 2LT Tomberlin, James H., Sgt Kuban, Frank, PFC McCormack, Richard B., S/Sgt |
1187-1188 | 25 Oct 1944 Target Piroe Town (3 planes) & nearby (3 planes) |
OO #83 Mission 130 |
"979" (B-25J) |
Bishop, J.L., 1LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Nussear, W.O., 1LT Sanford, H.D., T/Sgt Bergmeyer, G.L., S/Sgt McNabb, J.I., S/Sgt |
1658 | 1 Nov 1944 | OO #87 | "979" (B-25J) |
Anderson, R.L., 2LT Hepplewhite, R.T., 1LT Burcham, R.L., 2LT Taylor, H.E., Capt. Miller, R.C., S/Sgt Seifering, H.F., S/Sgt Atwood, A.C., S/Sgt |
1632 | 5 Nov 1944 Target Mifi Runway (medium altitude) |
OO #90 Mission 143 |
"983" (B-25J) |
Robertson, D. C., 1LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Tolhurst, H.R., 2LT Lambert, C.R., Pvt Tisdell, H.E., S/Sgt Hintz, N., Cpl |
1592 | 9 Nov 1944 Target Amoerang |
OO #94 Mission 148 |
"983" (B-25J) |
Anderson, R.L., 2LT Robertson, D.C., 1LT Tolhurst, H.R., 2LT Tomberlin, J.H., Sgt Lambert, C., Pvt Kuban, F., Pvt |
1562 | 12 Nov 1944 Target Pegun Town, Mapia Island (medium altitude) |
OO #96 Two Missions/ Same Crew: Mission 153 Mission 154 |
"076" (B-25J) |
Hepplewhite, R.T., 1LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Stodola, J.E., 2LT Snyder, C.V., Cpl Bowden, E.L., T/Sgt O'Sullivan, T., Pvt |
1546 | 13 Nov 1944 Target Pegun Island (medium altitude) |
OO #97 Two Missions/ Same Crew: Mission 156 Mission 157 |
"977" (B-25J) |
Robertson, D.C., 1LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Turowski, Z.S., 1LT Tomberlin, J.H., Sgt Lambert, C.R., Pvt Kuban, F., Pvt |
1536-1537 | 14 Nov 1944 Target Pegun Island (medium altitude) |
OO #98 Two Missions/ Same Crew: Mission 158 Mission 160 |
"983" (B-25J) |
Robertson, Donald C., 1LT Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Welch, John G., 1LT Lambert, Clifford R., Pvt Tomberlin, James H., Sgt Kuban, Frank, Pvt |
1533 | 15 Nov 1944 Support for troop invasion of Mapia Island (12 planes) |
OO #99 Mission 161 |
"105" (B-25J) |
Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Pitcher, George P., 1LT Tolhurst, Harland R., 2LT Estes, Clarence R., S/Sgt Schriebman, S., T/Sgt Holland, Aloysius F., S/Sgt |
1473 | 19 Nov 1944 Namlea Township runway ("Old Namlea"; medium altitude) |
OO #103 Mission 171 |
"085" (B-25J) |
Mahnke, H.W., 2LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Stem, R.H., 1LT Tomberlin, J., Sgt Lambert, C.R., Pvt Kuban, F., Pvt |
1441 | 23 Nov 1944 Ferry USO Personnel to Noemfoor (Non-combat flight) |
OO #107 | "363" (B-25D ??) |
Abbott, W., 2LT Anderson, R.L., 2LT Lambert, C.R., Pvt |
1416-1417 | 26 Nov 1944 Halong seaplane base (medium altitude) |
OO #110 Mission 181 |
"131" (B-25J) |
Burnett, John J., Jr., 1LT Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Schaade, J., 1LT Schriebman, Stanley, T/Sgt Schaefer, C.J., S/Sgt O'Sullivan, Thomas J., Pvt |
1384 | 30 Nov 1944 3-plane training flight (Non-combat flight) |
OO #114 | "105" (B-25J) |
Brabson, V.R., Lt. Col. Anderson, R.L., 2LT Tomberlin, James H., Sgt Lambert, Clifford R., Pvt |
1931-1932 | 2 Dec 1944 Boro Boro Airdrome |
OO #116 Mission 191 |
"977" (B-25J) |
Brown, Tom J., 1LT Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Stodola, Joseph E., 2LT Carlson, R.G., S/Sgt Messier, R.A., S/Sgt Schaefer, C.J., S/Sgt |
1922 | 6 Dec 1944 Galela runway |
OO #119 Mission 192 |
"012" (B-25J) |
Smith, Robert D., Capt. Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Kahler, Kenneth W., S/Sgt Carlson, Robert G., S/Sgt Bejeski, Walter J., S/Sgt |
1908 | 8 Dec 1944 Georoea supply area |
OO #121 Mission 194 |
"131" (B-25J) |
Hendricks, Frank E., 2LT Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Ward, Jesse E., 2LT Miller, Richard C., S/Sgt Seifering, Henry F., S/Sgt Cathers, Horace, S/Sgt |
1896 | 9 Dec 1944 4-plane shipping sweep |
OO #122 Either Mission 195 or Mission 198 (two separate flights of two) |
"893" (B-25J) |
Smith, R.D., Capt. Anderson, R.L., 2LT Burcham, R.L., 2LT King, M.L., T/Sgt McGuire, J.J., Sgt Tisdell, H.F., S/Sgt |
1842 | 17 Dec 1944 Shipping sweep |
OO #130 Mission 204 (?) |
"105" (B-25J) |
Anderson, R.L., 2LT Miller, Kenneth, 1LT Marks, Allan H., 2LT Palubiski, Norman F., S/Sgt Seehorn, Stanley L., S/Sgt Gray, Wynne A., S/Sgt |
1812 | 19 Dec 1944 Kairotoe Supply Area #3 |
OO #132 Mission 209 |
"085" (B-25J) |
Frick, Kenneth E., Capt. Anderson, Roy L., 2LT Stewart, William E., 2LT Flagg, Edmund H., 1LT McGuire, Jack J., Sgt King, Murphy L., T/Sgt Donovan, Jerome J., S/Sgt |
20 Dec 1944 - Roy is transferred to the 70th Bomb. Squadron (Medium), which is also with the 42nd BG. (See Below.) |
Date: 24 December 1944
Mission # 291, Goeroea Bay (Halmaheras) Personnel & Supply Area #2
Plane # "884" (a B-25J)
Details: Roy was pilot of the 3rd plane in the First Flight; Total of 8 planes in 3 flights divided as 3/3/2
Date: 1 January 1945
Mission # 303, Kairatoe Personnel & Supply Area, minimum altititude
Plane # "144" (a B-25G)
Details: Roy was pilot of the 2nd plane in the Second Flight; total of 8 planes in two flights of 4 planes each. On this mission, three planes from the first flight were lost, crashing into a mountainside on the way home, which claimed 17 crewmen, including the squadron commander. Roy obviously witnessed this loss and my dad recalls him telling the family about it later.
Remarks from the Mission Report: "After the bomb run the planes rendezvoused at Laoet Island and proceeded NE(?) on the return flight. Three planes of the first element and four planes of the second element joined and the three planes led by Lt. Col. Brabson started on the return flight. The fourth plane in the first element missed the formation and returned alone. At approximately 1100 at 3 30'S - 129 15'E the planes turned on a heading of 20 degrees and started across Ceram. The lead element's altitude was between 5000' and 6000' and the second flight at 8000'. The first flight was winding through 7/10 towering cumulus as they approached Mt. Binaija which was apparently not seen because of the clouds. The flight leader of the second flight saw them go around a cloud and head in to the ridge west of Mt. Binaija Peak at 1110. They apparently did not have space to avoid hitting the ridge and the three planes crashed and burned."
Date: 4 January 1945
Mission # 307, Tanamou Airdrome Personnel & Supply Area, minimum altitude
Plane # "884" (a B-25J)
Details: Roy was pilot of the 4th plane in the Second Flight; total of 8 planes in two flights of 4 planes each.
Date: 6 January 1945
Mission # 308, Mapanget Personnel & Supply Area, minimum altitude
Plane # "364" (a B-25D)
Details: Roy was pilot of the 2nd plane in the First Flight; total of 8 planes in two flights of 4 planes each.
Date: 7 January 1945
Mission # 310, Report weather and check runway headings of all airdromes in the area
Plane # "829" (a B-25D)
Details: Roy piloted the only plane on this mission! The enemy airdromes visited were Sidate, Langoon, Tanamou, and Mapanget. Took off at 0450I and landed at 1110I. Also dropped six 500 lb. G.P. bombs on Kabarei Village at 1010I.
Date: 11 January 1945
Mission # 314, Kendari Personnel & Supply Area, including a stop at Moratai on the way back to Sansapor.
Plane # "106" (a B-25G)
Details: Roy was the pilot of the 2nd plane in the Second Flight; total of 6 planes in two flights of 3 planes each.
Remarks from the Mission Report: "Ship #106 retired from target area when engine started smoking, running rough, showing excess pressure. Pilot discovered, too late, that it was probably due to acceleration after long cruising."
Date: 13 January 1945
Mission # 316, Night heckler mission to Namlea Airdrome, using three planes, each taking off 2 hours apart
Plane # "884" (a B-25J)
Details: Roy piloted the 3rd plane to take off, at 0210I.
Remarks from the Mission Report: "Lt Anderson #884 airborne at 0210I, and almost immediately the tower called and told Lt. Anderson to return to base. He landed at 0235I." Weather was the problem, which the two earlier planes had to struggle with as noted in the mission report, so I assume it was further concern for weather conditions that directed Roy's flight to be scrubbed.
Date: 14 January 1945
Mission # 317, Buluan airfield (Mindanao), minimum altitude, including a stop at Moratai on the way there (direct return to Sansapor after the mission).
Plane # "336" (a B-25D)
Details: Roy was the pilot of the 3rd plane in the Second Flight; total of 6 planes in two flights of 3 planes each.
Date: 20 January 1945
Mission # 322, Shipping sweep of Fox 1, 2, 3, George 1, 2, 3, 4, How 1, 2, and Minipa Island.
Plane # "154" (either a B-25G or J)
Details: Roy was the pilot of the 2nd plane in this flight of only 2 planes. The flight was requested to return early to look for plane "336," which was overdue. They searched an area 40 miles west of Batanta Island and back to Sansapor, with negative results.
SPECIAL NOTE: This appears to be Roy's final mission. No other mission reports list Roy as a pilot, and his individual flight records change in the coding associated with subsequent flights to suggest that he flew administrative flights only after this day.
NOTE About Other 70th BS Missions: Looking at Roy's individual flight records while with the 70th BS, and comparing them to missions listed in the microfilm record, it would appear that Roy may have flown as co-pilot for three more missions on the following dates: December 23 and December 26, 1944, and January 3, 1945. It also looks like he flew on an administrative flight on December 31, 1944.
ALSO NOTE: It appears, as saved in the 70th BS history archive, that Roy actually received his first Air Medal (General Order 34, Hq FEAF, dated 5 January 1945) in a ceremony on 19 February 1945.
Any remaining errors and inaccuracies are most certainly mine, and will be corrected whenever possible.
The following resources may help others in their research.
Kevin Anderson
Dubuque, Iowa
Last updated 22 March 2014