James Roy Andersen
Brigadier General James Roy Andersen was a United States Army Air Forces officer. He was declared killed in action after an aircraft accident on February 26, 1945, over the Pacific Ocean.
Early life and education
Andersen was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on May 10, 1904, the son of Niels and Inger Andersen. He graduated from Racine High School in 1922.He graduated from the United States Military Academy on the Hudson River at West Point, New York, on June 12, 1926, fourth in his class.
Shortly after graduating, married his high school sweetheart, Esther Katherine Hau. Together they had a son and a daughter; Jay and Nancy Jo.
He had earned a Bachelor of Science from United States Military Academy, 1926; a Master of Science, Ordnance Technology School, 1934; Graduated from Army Air Force Primary and Basic Flying School, 1936; Advanced Flying School, 1937; and Tactical School, 1940.
Military career
After graduating from West Point, he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry at Fort Sheridan Illinois for 2 years, then served 3 years at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 3 years at Aberdeen Proving Ground Command and Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey; one year in Boston, and one year at Selfridge Field, Michigan, plus one year in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1934 with a Master of Science degree. He spent 6 years in the infantry and 3 years in ordnance before entering into flight school. In 1936, he was promoted to captain and obtained his wings at Kelly Field, Texas and assigned to Hickam Field, Hawaii. During World War II, he returned to West Point as an instructor, with promotion to colonel by early 1943. During 1943-1944 he served on the U.S. War Department General Staff. In January 1945, Andersen was promoted to brigadier general and assigned to HQ AAF, Pacific Ocean Area. He was a rated air observer, air pilot, and senior air pilot.Disappearance
Andersen is believed to have died on February 26, 1945, in an aircraft accident near Kwajalein Island.Traveling from Guam to a high-level conference in Washington, D.C., he and Lieutenant General Millard Harmon boarded the Consolidated C-87A Liberator Express serial number 41-24174, piloted by Major Francis Euel Savage. The aircraft landed safely at Bucholz Army Airfield to refuel, but disappeared after taking off between Kwajalein and Johnston Island, while en route to Hawaii.
Afterwards, the U.S. Navy was in charge of the search for the aircraft. Despite intensive searches by aircraft from both U.S. Army Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft plus surface vessels, no trace of the aircraft or anyone aboard was ever located.
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 26, 1945
Legacy
On Oct. 7, 1949, North Guam Air Force Base was renamed Andersen Air Force Base in his memory.He has memorial markers in Arlington National Cemetery, Brunswick Memorial Park, Brunswick, GA., and at the Tablets of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Honolulu, Hawaii.