Vernon Dale Anderson was born on February 22, 1919, in Skamokawa, Wahkiakum County, Washington. He was the son of Francis Alfred Anderson and Mary Amelia Peterson Anderson. He was married to Sheila Lucille Hutcheon James. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator of B-17G #42-102565, nicknamed ''The Ugly Duckling'' during World War II.

On November 26, 1944, the aircraft was lost during a bombing mission over Misburg, Germany. While returning to base, the aircraft sustained severe damage from enemy anti-aircraft fire near Zwolle, Netherlands. The impact caused a runaway propeller, forcing the crew to bail out over the IJsselmeer (then known as the Zuiderzee). Tragically, all nine crew members perished, likely due to hypothermia from the frigid waters.

2Lt Anderson is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. Vernon D. Anderson's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 21, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.zzairwar.nl, www.398th.org/