Jerroll Elmo “Jerry” Sanders was born on June 2, 1921, in Diboll, Angelina County, Texas. He was the son of Carroll James Sanders and Mary E. Morgan Palmer. He was married to Emma Cleone "Bobbie" Allen Sanders. He enlisted in the Army in October 1939. He served in the 423rd Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Bombardier of B17G #4231388 during World War II.

On February 11, 1944, B-17G #42-31388 departed from Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, on a daylight bombing mission toward Germany but was heavily damaged by anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters while en route to Frankfurt. Unable to remain in formation and losing fuel and altitude over France, the crew was forced to abandon the aircraft; S/Sgt James H. Coleman was killed, while the surviving crew members parachuted into the Oise region, where some were captured, and others escaped with the aid of the French Resistance. The aircraft continued briefly without its crew before crashing at La Cour de la Bruyère, in the commune of Campremy.

1Lt Sanders was captured and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia. After his release, he returned to duty and participated in the Korean War. After his military service, he went on to work in the petroleum industry, a career that took him to southeast Texas, California, and eventually back to Schleicher County in west-central Texas, where he remained until his retirement. He died on May 8, 1994, and is now buried in the Eldorado Cemetery, Eldorado, Schleicher County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net