Carl Rudolph Sandersen was born April 23, 1917 in Berthoud, Colorado to Oluf and Anna D. (Hansen) Sandersen. There were seven children in the family. Sanderson graduated from Berthoud High School.

On November 11, 1941, Sandersen married Eva V. Walters. The couple had a daughter Carolyn Kay Sandersen.

Sanderson served in the Colorado National Guard for one year. In May 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces from Larimer County, Colorado. Service Numbers 20838563 and O-689275. Sandersen was commissioned as a second lieutenant in September 1943 at Aloe Army Airfield in Texas.  2LT Sandersen served with the 333rd Bombardment Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group. He was deployed overseas in March 1944.

On June 21, 1944, B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97614 "Pinup Girl / Nick's Place" took off from RAF Bury St . Edmunds (Rougham) in England. 2LT Sandersen was the tail gunner on the flight. 42-97614 was hit by flak immediately after bombs away over Berlin, Germany. The entire crew was lost in the incident.

Carl Rudolph Sandersen was interred in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in France. He also has a cenotaph in Greenlawn Cemetery in Berthoud, Colorado.

2LT Sandersen was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart. The Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster was presented to his widow, Eva Sandersen, on February 15, 1945 at Lowry Field in Denver. The presentation was made by Lowry Field Commandant Col. John B. Patrick. The citation read "for exceptionally meritorious achievement on heavy bombardment missions over enemy occupied Europe."