![]() ![]() The ceremony also served as a re-dedication to a monument memorializing those who died during the crash that was planned in 2012, dedicated in 2018, and relocated in 2021. He thought he was going to die because of the weather exposure.” “The flames got so bad they literally singed his eyebrows and all, and then the ammunition started going off and one bullet went through his wrist,” said Jim Lux, the “Hot Stuff” monument project manager. Eisel was stuck in the tail turret by both ankles, but this prevented him from being propelled into a section of the aircraft that caught fire after two phosphorous bombs onboard detonated. George Eisel, “Hot Stuff’s” tail gunner, becoming the sole survivor. Upon impact, "Hot Stuff" broke apart which incidentally led to Staff Sgt. Although "Hot Stuff" flew its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, the " Memphis Belle " is largely celebrated as the first heavy bomber to complete 25 successful missions three months later on May 17, 1945. In fact, the Eighth Air Force averaged one bomber lost every 18 sorties (one sortie equals one aircraft flying one combat mission). to be recognized before encountering inclement weather that caused them to crash on Mount Fagradalsfjall, Iceland.Īt the time, the odds of completing a 25-mission tour and going home were small. The “Hot Stuff” crew, which Andrews was accompanying., completed 25 missions without casualties, the first 8th Air Force crew to do so, and was traveling back to the U.S. In 1945, Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland, was renamed Andrews Air Force Base in honor of Andrews and later became Joint Base Andrews, which it is still named today. Frank Maxwell Andrews.Īndrews was the Commander of the European Theater of Operations at the time of the crash and was also known as a strong advocate for a separate branch of the military dedicated to airpower, which later evolved into the U.S. citizens held a ceremony on May 3, 2023, to mark the 80th anniversary of the B-24 Liberator bomber “Hot Stuff” crash that killed 14 of its 15 passengers and crew, including Lt. ![]()
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