Five Sioux Cityans were graduated from Aloe army air field June 27 as fighter pilots and commissioned officers. From left to right they are: Lieut. Douglas C. Griggs, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Griggs, 3404 Garretson avenue; Lieut. Donald H. Ferguson, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Ferguson, James, Ia., and former Morningside college student; Lieut. Everett L. Hooks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin C. Hooks, 4321 Van Buren street; Flight Officer Darwin W. Detlefs, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Detlefs, 1335 21st street; and Lieut. George M. Saunderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Saunderson, 1505 Sioux Trail.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, July 1, 1944 (photos included)
FORMER COLLEGE STAR IS KILLED
Lt. George Saunderson Combat Victim in Germany
Lt. George M. Saunderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. (“Saundy") Saunderson, 1505 Sioux trail, was killed in action in Germany on May 7, according to a telegram received from the war department Tuesday.
Lt. Saunderson was a pilot on a B-24 Liberator bomber based in England and had written his parents that he was on "milk runs" over Germany. He also wrote recently he had been flying soldiers over Germany to see the destroyed areas. His parents had not heard from him for two weeks prior to receiving notification of his death.
A former Morningside college student and football star, Lt. Saunderson entered service in April 1942. He spent a leave at home in December of 1944, then went to Iceland and then to England. He was graduated from Aloe army airfield, as a second lieutenant on June 27, 1944.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, May 23, 1945
George McCullough Saunderson was born July 15, 1922 to Jason McCullough and Daisy Newcomer Saunderson. He died May 7, 1945 and is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.
2nd Lt. Saunderson served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 567th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy and was MIA/KIA aboard B-24J “The Falcon Returns" in Germany.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
