Sator Sierra Sanchez
By Angela Bonilla
The 66th bombing mission that Sator “Sandy” Sanchez flew during World War II turned out to be his last.
On March 15, 1945, just days before his 24th birthday, Sgt. Sanchez's B-17 was shot down over an oil refinery in Ruhland, Germany. Sanchez was the only member of the 10-man crew who did not make it out of the plane before it crashed into the ground.
Sanchez received numerous honors for his combat heroism. After his death, a school, a park and an Air Force base dormitory were named in his honor.