SSgt Alvin E. Sanderson was the right gunner of the B-17G-1-BO 42-31110 QE-M "Pacific’s Dream" when it took off from Station 468 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK, on December 31st, 1943 during Mission VIII BC171 in order to bomb the Cognac-Châteaubernard area. At 1221, just after they had dropped their bombs, the plane was hit by flak. Two engines caught fire and one was rendered inoperable. Unable to maintain formation, the pilot lowered the plane and ordered the crew to jump. After gliding a bit, the plane meandered to what is now the D144 and crashed. Sanderson lost consciousness during his jump, but came to in time to land in a field, where his military items were hidden by French farmers. Unfortunately, he could not wear the civilian clothes offered as they were too small. He hid in the nearby woods until the farmers moved him to a cave, where he waited for two days. He then linked up with Dymek and McLaughlin thanks to the mayor of Bouneau. They moved on to Limoges with Maurice Lacherez, a Frenchman. They were then evacuated to the UK by the Francoise/Pyrenees Mars 44 escape route. His full escape report, #580, can be found at http://arcweb.archives.gov. SSgt Sanderson attained the highest rank of Chief Master Sergeant.