Pilot Officer Paul Roger Anderson was the son of Jesse Thomas Anderson (1893-1961) and Nora Ellen Anderson née Pace (1893-1954). According to American records he was born on 23 May 1917 in Oregon, USA. In 1934 he married Elsie Verda Hawtrey (1913-1987) in Sacramento, California, USA.
Before World War Two he flew as a crop duster in the USA. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 85219, and was attached as a Pilot Officer in No.71 Squadron.
He was killed on 8 March 1941 as a result of enemy action when a bomb exploded in Westminster and he was buried in Plot 20, Row A, Grave 18 in the Brookwood Military Cemetery. There is some confusion as to his age, as according the date of birth in the American records he would have been 23-years-old. However when his death was registered in Westminster he was recorded as aged 25 years and this is the age shown on his gravestone and in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website. In a newspaper cutting of the time his age was given as 27 years.
One of the bombs that fell on 8 March 1941 landed on the Cafe De Paris in Coventry Street, W1, and killed at least 34 staff, band members and patrons. Possibly Anderson was one of them.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
