[William Y. Anderson oral history interview (Part 1 of 2)]

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace William Y. Anderson discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. In part one, he describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in England and France with the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group. Special focus on several combat missions in 1944 in which he and his squadron mates scored aerial victories.

William Y. Anderson was born on June 28, 1921 in Kramfors, Sweden. Shortly after he was born, his family immigrated to Chicago, Illinois. Anderson joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1941 and graduated from flight training the following year. After a brief stateside assignment with the 20th Fighter Group, he was deployed to Europe in 1943 with the 354th Fighter Group. He served with the 353rd Fighter Squadron in England and France and afterwards instructed cadets at West Point. Anderson left the military after World War II and embarked on a 36-year career with United Airlines. He retired in 1981 and passed away in 2011.

Biographical information courtesy of: Boyce, Ward J., ed., American fighter aces album. Mesa, Ariz: American Fighter Aces Association, 1996.