Calvin Leroy Anthes was born in Indiana, son of Arhtur A. Anthes and Effie Ovanda Price. He was a 1937 graduate of Rensselaer High School. He was a member of both football and basketball teams. While the family lived in Rensselaer they operated a restaurant.
2nd Lt Calvin L. Anthes enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 29 May 1941. He had completed 19 missions, three of them over Germany, and was expected back in the United States by the end of April.
On 13 April 1944, aircraft B-17G, serial number 42-97274 was on a combat mission to Schweinfurt, Germany. The aircraft was flying no. 5 position in the Lead Squadron. At 1548 hours, over Brussels the aircraft was struck by flak in the no. 2 and no. 3 engines. Shortly thereafter the ship exploded in mid-air. The remains of 2nd Lt Anthes were found at the crash point at Fouleng, 18 Km North of Mons, Belgium. He had several bone fractures. Calvin Anthes was initially buried at the cemetery in Chièvres, comrade grave nr. 12 on 15 April 1944.
The Knoxville Newes-Sentinel, September 19, 1943
Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, N.M. – Aviation Cadet Calvin L. Anthes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Anthes, 2101 Laurel Avenue, has been commissioned second lieutenant upon graduation here as aerial bombardier. Lt. Anthes is a graduate of Rensselaer (Ind.) High School and attended Madison (Wis.) Business College and the University of Wisconsin. He was a former grocery chain checker. Lt. Anthes was formerly stationed at the Santa Ana, Calif., Army Air Base.
He is now buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, A, 11, 31.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt James Robert Lavin
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Louis Anger Bendon
Navigator, 2nd Lt Harold Eugene Ashman
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Calvin Leroy Anthes
Radio Operator, T/Sgt Edward L. Price
Top Turret Gunner, T/Sgt Troy Hollar
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Lloyd George Brady
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt James Woodie Malone
Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Raymond Richard Marz
Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Charles William Johnson
Photo below from the Rensselaer High School Yearbook 1937
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 19 May 1919
- Date of death: 13 April 1944
- County: Knox
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 547th Bomber Squadron, 384th Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: Randolph Ceccucci
Image Gallery
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