LEGACY OF A HOMETOWN HERO
Rising Through the Ranks From Fidencio and Belen’s house, it was only 6 miles to the runway at Holy Name Technical School (renamed Lewis College in 1973), which specialized in aviation in - struction. According to Cervantes, family lore has it that Sanchez “would take off on his bike and ride out to the airport,” watching the planes take off and land for hours. Sanchez was also drawn to public service from an early age. In high school, he belonged to the Junior Reserve Of - ficers’ Training Corps and after graduation joined the Civil - ian Conservation Corps. By 1941, Sanchez had combined his two passions and was an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Corps stationed at Merced Army Airfield (today Castle Air Force Base) in California, a member of a unit devoted to the maintenance of B-13s and the training of new pilots. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a sergeant at just 21 years old. Sanchez’s first act of recognized heroism came in 1942, when he noticed an unmanned B-13 careening down the airfield’s runway, aimed for a line of planes parked in front of the maintenance hangar. Sanchez knew that if the B-13 slammed into those planes, the collision would set off a chain of explosions that would destroy the equipment and endanger the lives of the me - chanics working in the hangar. He took off, chasing the aircraft down the runway, even after being knocked flat by a flap on the plane’s tail. Remarkably, Sanchez was able to catch up with the plane and pull himself into the cockpit. He immediately switched off the engine and hit the brakes. It was too late; the momentum of the B-13 carried it into the first plane in line. “Despite the fear of explosion at any moment,” accord - ing to Master Sgt. Berry Spink, a U.S. Air Force historian, Sanchez “didn’t leave the cockpit until the plane stopped completely, making sure it could do no more harm.” Thanks to Sanchez, no one was hurt, and the damage was contained to only two aircraft. For his bravery and quick thinking, Sanchez was awarded the Soldier’s Medal and a coveted spot in gun - nery school. His schooling was cut short, however, as demand grew for combat troops to replace the Allies’ ever-growing losses in Europe during World War II. Record Setter By the middle of 1943, Sanchez had been sent to Suffolk, England, to join the 95th Bombardment Group, 334th Squadron, as a tail and top turret gunner. Aboard the B-17 Situation Normal , Sanchez flew missions in Prussia,
PHOTOS: (Inset) Sanchez's undated portrait; (spread) This is the vertical tail section of the B-17G (S/N 42- 97683) bomber in which Sanchez flew his last mission. It is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Watch a video featured in Rails to Trails' 2021 Green Issue to learn more about Sator Sanchez and other historical highlights along the Great American route: rtc.li/ green-mag2021 .
Norway, Czechoslovakia and Germany, quickly making his mark as a fearless and accurate gunner. After 25 mis - sions, he volunteered for a second combat tour, this time with a flight crew on the B-17 Able Mable . Spink wrote that Sanchez’s “happy-go-lucky attitude on the ground and his professionalism in the air” made him an invaluable asset to any crew he flew with. Not only that, but Sanchez seemed to grow uncomfortable when he was grounded too long, “volunteering to fly any and all missions.” By April 1944, he had been promoted to technical sergeant. A month later, Sanchez’s crew bombed oil refineries in Brux, Czechoslovakia, in the face of opposition from 430 German fighters. When his plane returned to England, Sanchez was greeted by cheers and applause. He had just set a record for the most combat missions flown by a crew member in the European theater: 44. To commemorate Sanchez’s achievement, the nose of a new B-17 was painted with a caricature of Sanchez’s smiling face and given the name Smilin’ Sandy Sanchez and assigned the number 44. It is the only known B-17 ever to be named for an enlisted member. Distinguished Service For many airmen, this would have been a triumphant end to their military career. Sanchez did enjoy leave back in Joliet, where he met up with old friends who had also served overseas. According to Spink, they listened,
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