Ellis J. Sanderson Crew

ELLIS J. SANDERSON CREW - 359th BS
B-17F Green Hornet #41-24603 (BN-Y)
(original crew assigned 359BS: 10 Sep 1942 - photo: 10 Oct 1942)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Ellis J. Sanderson (P-POW); 2Lt Horace D. Bowman (CP-POW);
2Lt John W. Spence (N-Evd); 2Lt John W. Plummer (B)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Sidney Devers (E-Evd), T/Sgt Miles B. Jones (R-Evd),
S/Sgt Harry F. Swanson (RWG-POW), S/Sgt Frank W. Greene (BT-Evd),
S/Sgt Joseph L. Markiewicz (TG-KIA)

Not in photo: Sgt Carlos J. Silva (LWG-POW)
Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission flown

(KIA-POW-Evd) On 23 January 1943 mission # 11 to Lorient France in B-17F #41-24603 Green Hornet (359BS) BN-Y. Shot down by enemy fighters partly caused when the 303rd BG(H) formation was broken up over the target when another Group was bombing above the 303rd BG(H) B-17s

Crew Notes (Combat missions flown):

1Lt Ellis J. Sanderson (P-POW) - Flew on 8 credited missions: 1(AS) [17 Nov 42], 2, 5, 6(AS), 7(A), 8, 9, 10, 11 [23 Jan 43]. Mission #5 [ 6 Dec 42] flown as CoPilot with Maj Eugene A. Romig as Lead Crew Pilot. All of 1Lt Sanderson's missions were flown in B17F "Green Hornet" #41-24603 359BS (BN-Y). Was wounded on mission 11. (AS) Credited abortive Sortie - no bombs dropped. (A) Non-Credited aborted mission For mission dates and targets see the missions list.
2Lt John W. Spence (N-EVD), T/Sgt Sidney Devers (E-EVD), T/Sgt Miles B. Jones (R-EVD), S/Sgt Frank W. Greene (BTG-EVD), S/Sgt Harry E. Swanson (RWG-POW). Flew on all of the 8 credited 1Lt. Sanderson missions.
Sgt Carlos J. Silva (LWG-POW) - Flew on 9 credited missions: With 1Lt Sanderson on his 8 credited missions - Missions 9 & 10 as BTG; With Capt William R. Calhoun, Jr. mission 4. Was not on the original 1Lt Sanderson Crew that flew from the USA to England in October 1942.
2Lt Howard D. Bowman (CP-POW) - Flew on 7 credited missions - Did not fly on mission #5. All others with 1Lt Sanderson.
2Lt John W. Plummer (B) - Flew on 3 credited missions: With 1Lt Sanderson - Missions 1 & 2; With 1Lt Arthur E. Reddig - mission #4, 23 Nov 42. Entire crew KIA. B-17 crashed in Bay of Biscay in flames. Was replaced by 2Lt Grady B. Ward (POW) on the other six 1Lt Sanderson crew missions.
S/Sgt Joseph L. Markiewicz (TG-POW/DOW) - Flew on 6 credited missions. Did not fly on missions 8 & 9. All others with 1Lt Sanderson. Died of wounds on 12 February 1943 while a POW.

Substitute crewmen who flew with 1Lt Sanderson:

2Lt Grady B. Ward (B-POW) - Flew on 8 credited missions: With 1Lt Arthur J. Reddig - missions 2 & 3 - his original crew; With 1Lt Sanderson on six missions 5, 6(AS), 7(A), 8, 9, 10 & 11 after 2Lt Plummer was KIA on mission #4.
T/Sgt Joseph G. Marcelonis (LWG) - With 1Lt Sanderson on missions 9 & 10. Was a member of the original 1Lt Jack Roller crew assigned 359BS on 15 September 1942. Completed his combat tour on 25 June 1943. Replaced Sgt Silva who flew as BTG.
T/Sgt Warren H. Gerow (TG) - Flew on 3 credited missions: With 1Lt Sanderson on two missions 8 & 9 - Replaced S/Sgt Markiewicz. With Maj Eugene Romig (P) and 1Lt Sanford T. Smith (CP) on mission 10 as BTG. With Capt Jack Roller as BTG on non- credited aborted mission 38. Flew from USA to Molesworth as a passenger with the original 1Lt Frank A. Saunders Crew in October 1942. Regular assignment was as an Armorer in the 359th BS Armament unit.

(L-R) T/Sgt Miles B. Jones, S/Sgt Frank W. Greene,
S/Sgt Joseph L. Markiewicz, T/Sgt Sidney Devers
[photo courtesy of Gordon Markiewicz]

[crew photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]