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Anderson, Peter Murray "Andy"

    Date of birth:
    April 9th, 1922 (Union Point/Manitoba, Canada)
    Date of death:
    April 11th, 1945 (Burg Röhl/Rhineland, Germany)
    Buried on:
    Commonwealth War Graves Brussels Town Cemetery
    Plot: X. Row: 21. Grave: 5.
    Service number:
    J.16379
    Nationality:
    Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

    Biography

    Peter Murray Anderson was born on April 9th, 1922 as son to Peter Anderson and Lorena Jane Anderson. He graduated in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba.
    Entered the military service on April 16th 1941 at Winnipeg and was send on unpayed leave until April 26th, 1941 when he was stationed at No. 2 Manning Depot. After his training he was stationed to No. 97 Squadron.
    Flight Lieutenant Peter Anderson was killed on April 11th, 1945, when, flying with No. 207 Squadron, he crashed in Avro Lancaster Mk III, ME 472 "EM-O" after a mission to Leipzig. The other six crew members (Sergeant E. Nichol, Flying Officer C.M. Hewett, Flying Officer K.A. Larcombe, Sergeant C.V. Collins, Sergeant E.J. Matthews en Sergeant J.R. Pearl) could save themselves by parachute due to the activities of Anderson.

    Promotions:
    August 19th, 1941: Leading Aircraftman;
    January 2nd, 1942: Sergeant;
    November 28th, 1942: Pilot Officer;
    May 28th, 1943: Flying Officer;
    June 15th, 1944: Flight Lieutenant.

    Career:
    April 26th, 1941: No. 2 Manning Depot;
    June 9th, 1941: Guard Duty, No. 37 Service Flying Training School (SFTS);
    July 15th, 1941: No. 4 Initial Training School (ITS);
    August 19th, 1941 - October 10th, 1941: No. 18 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS);
    October 11th, 1941 - January 2nd, 1942: No. 15 Service Flying Training School (SFTS);
    January 3rd, 1942: "Y" Depot;
    January 23rd, 1942: RAF (overseas);
    April 1st, 1942: No. 12 Service Flying Training School (SFTS);
    June 24th, 1942: No. 16 Operational Training Unit (OTU);
    September 16th, 1942: No. 106 Conversion Flight;
    September 28th, 1942: No. 97 Squadron;
    March 13th, 1943: No. 16 Operational Training Unit;
    January 27th, 1944: No. 82 Operational Training Unit;
    June 15th, 1944: No. 86 Operational Training Unit;
    August 11th, 1944 - October 12th, 1944: Special Leave, Canada;
    October 31st, 1944: No. 51 Base;
    November 20th, 1944: No. 1660 Conversion Unit;
    January 10th, 1945: No. 5 Lancaster School;
    February 15th, 1945 - April 11th, 1945: No. 207 Squadron.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Pilot Officer
    Unit:
    No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    March 26th, 1943
    Citation:
    "This officer has completed a large number of sorties, including 7 attacks on targets in Italy. He has always displayed great courage and skill. One night in February, 1943, he completed a successful attack on Lorient in difficult circumstances. Three nights later, he flew with distinction in an attack on the same target."

    Recommendation:
    "This officer was detailed to attack a very small target at Lorient on the night of 13/14th February 1943. The target was not illuminated in any way and much smoke make identification extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Pilot Officer Anderson brought back a picture which showed that his bombs had fallen on the aiming point. This feat was repeated on the night of 16/17th February 1943.
    Pilot Officer Anderson has now completed 27 successful sorties which include seven against Italian targets, two against Berlin and many against Essen and other towns in the Ruhr. His skill and courage have always set a high standard and have been a fine example to others."

    LG 35954/1414.
    AFRO 757/43 (30 April 1943).
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Pilot Officer
    Unit:
    No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    December 18th, 1943
    RCAF Operational Wings
    Had flown 30 sorties (191 hours 30 minutes), 1 October 1942 to 28 February 1943.

    At the time of the presentation he held the rank of Flying Officer and was serving with No. 16 Operational Training Unit.
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flying Officer
    Awarded on:
    June 8th, 1944

    LG 36544/2643.
    AFRO 1729/44 (11 August 1944).
    Mentioned in Dispatches

    Sources

    Photo