Richard Grant Anderson

Second Lieutenant Anderson enlisted in February 1943. He received his commission at Lubbock, Texas. He was assigned to the 76th TCS, 435th TCG and sent to Europe where he would fly C-47 aircraft. On Sept. 17, 1944, he was the co-pilot of the C-47A s/n 42-24111 for a paratroop drop mission over Holland. All the paratroopers were members of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. About 10 minutes to the drop zone, the C-47 was hit by two bursts of flak. The C-47 burst into flames, at which time the order was given to the paratroopers to drop. Immediately after the last paratrooper bailed, the aircraft went into an uncontrollable dive and crashed into the countryside.