TSgt Glenn Pershing Anderson

Familial History

TSgt Glenn Pershing Anderson was born on 9 October 1918 in Hatfield, Polk County, Arkansas to Villa E, Abbott, and Charles Smithers Anderson. He died 12 September 1944 in Germany in the line of duty.

The NARA indicated he resided in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona prior to the war. The 1940 US Census indicated he was a lodger in the Homer A. Cowen home at 2413 East Monroe Street in Phoenix with his wife, Augusta. Glenn grew up in Hatfield, Arkansas and graduated from Hatfield High School in 1939.

On 16 September 1939, he married Augusta Ruth Thompson in Polk County, Arkansas. She was 16 years of age and worked as a maid in private homes. Ruth was born 1923 to Prince Edward Poindexter and Charles Lafayette Poindexter. She died in 1959 in Arizona and buried in the Globe Cemetery, Globe, Gila County, Arizona. Her Memorial # was 33675216.

Villa E. Abbott was born 10 March 1888 in Minnehaha County, South Dakota to Mary Ellen Dartt and Versil “Bert” Abbott. She passed away on 15 August 1967 in Mena, Polk County, Arkansas and was buried in the Gann Cemetery, Potter, Polk County, Arkansas. Her Memorial # was 85283818. She married Charles on 24 October 1917 in Polk County, Arkansas.

Charles Smithers Anderson was born 30 august 1877 in Franklin County, Arkansas to Narcissus Campbell and Thomas Wendell Anderson. He died 15 May 1971 in Mena, Arkansas and interred near Mary. His Memorial # was 85283668.

The Anderson union produced 8 children composed of 5 daughters and 3 sons. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Lora Anderson McLellan (15 January 1906-10 January 1991); Sallie L. Anderson Newsom (19 February 1907-28 April 1996); Rena Belle Anderson Howard (26 November 1910-1992); Oleta Ellen Anderson Bishop (15 November 1916-5 August 1975); TSgt Glenn Pershing Anderson; (30 September 1925-12 August 2009); Ray Upton Anderson (20 December 1919-2 May 1990); Louise May Anderson (26 January 1921-27 March 2012); and Doyle Rex Andeson (30 September 1925-12 August 2009).

Service History:

TSgt Glenn Pershing Anderson registered for the draft.16 October 1940 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada. He was working for the US Bureau of Reclamation constructing the Parker Dam on the Colorado River, and living in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada during the construction. He was 5’8” in height, weighed 144 pounds, had brown hair, and blue eyes. His wife, Augusta Ruth Anderson signed as the next of kin.

He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps 26 March 1943 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. At the time, he was residing in Clark County, Nevada. TSgt Anderson had completed 4 years of high school and was married.

He was assigned to US Army Air Corps 860th Bomber Squadron, 443rd Bomber Group. Heavy. His Service Number was 39911994.

TSgt Anderson trained as a Radio Operator and was assigned to B-17 Flying Fortress #43-38319 when he was killed in action. On 12 September 1944, they departed RAF Debach, Suffolk, England (USAAF Station 152) on a bombing mission to the tank factories in Magdeburg, Germany. RAF Debach was located 3 miles northwest of Woodbridge, Suffolk England. The weather and visibility was unlimited.

At 1110 hours, the left wing incurred a direct hit of flak and caught fire. The plane started to spin and at 18,000 feet altitude the plane exploded and crashed near Pechau. southeast of Magdeburg, Germany. Eight of the crewmembers were killed and Navigator Flight Officer Victor Bennett was taken prisoner of war. The Missing Air Crew Report was #8869.

The crewmembers of B-17 #43-38319 were:

Radio Op TSgt Anderson, Glenn Pershing 39911994 Arizona

Ball T Gun SSgt Armstrong, Marshel E. 32546796 New York

Navigator Fl O Bennett, Victor T-124762 New York^

Pilot 1LT Bisaro, Edwon O-761858 Oregon

Waist Gun SSgt Butler, John Edward 31232707 Massachusetts

Co-Pilot Fl O Davis, Lyle Victor T-002770 New York

Engineer TSgt Rosiere, Kenneth C. 6912905 Illinois

Tail Gun SSgt Shub, Irving B. 12156070 New York

Bombardier 2LT Winans, Harold L. O-765866 California

^ Denotes Prisoner of War

TSgt Glenn Pershing Anderson was originally interred in the American Cemetery and Memorial , Neuville, Belgium. On 17 June 1949, his body arrived in Arkansas, escorted by TSgt Charles A. Stegman, from the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois GAR Depot. He was reinterred in the Gann Cemetery, Potter, Polk County, Arkansas. His Memorial # was 85284509. His father signed the US Headstone Application on 18 June 1949 and the headstone was delivered to the cemetery 11 August 1949

Commendations:

Air Medal

Purple Heart

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, TSgt Glenn Pershing Anderson of the US Army, for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’ s name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The author was Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is jchisum@q.com

Resources:

Anderson Glenn P. (uswarmemorials.org)

TSGT Glenn Pershing Anderson (1918-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial

Glenn P Anderson : Technical Sergeant from Arkansas, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

Glenn P Anderson | American Air Museum

493rd Bomb Group | American Air Museum

43-38319 | American Air Museum