Malcolm J. Erickson was born in 1919 in Wisconsin. He moved to Minnesota and was married. However, when he joined the Army reserves with the aim of becoming an aviator on 14 August 1942, he and his wife were divorced.

Malcolm made it into flight training and was trained at several air fields. On 10 June 1943 he crash landed his PT19 at Brown Field, Texas. He was able to continue his flight training however and after graduation was sent to England were he joined the 509th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group. The P47 of this 9th Air Force unit were detailed to provide close air support for ground troops.

On 23 March, 1945, P47's of the 9th Air Force, including the 405th FG, were involved in attacks near Dinslaken, Borken, Sudlohn, Schermbeck,

509th Fighter Squadron

405th Fighter Group

9th Air Force
 

Grossrecken and Haltern. Most likely, these attack were in preparation of the Allied attack across the Rhine river that would start the next day. The 405th was stationed at Ophoven, Belgium.

Captain Malcolm Erickson, who had already received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, went missing on this mission. He remains missing till this day.

He is mentioned on the Wall of the Missing at Margraten.

 

Margraten, The Netherlands

See Also:
All Casualties of the 405th Fighter Group killed in Holland or buried at Margraten

Acknowledgements:
NARA AAD
www.perrinairforcebase.net

Directions to Margraten American Military Cemetery

Posted 31 October 2006

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

Home | Search | Research | About