Hot Stuff (aircraft)
Hot Stuff | |
---|---|
U.S. Army personnel remove bodies from the wreckage of Hot Stuff after it struck a mountainside in Iceland, May 1943 | |
Type | Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
Manufacturer | Consolidated Aircraft |
Serial | 41-23728 |
Owners and operators | United States Army Air Forces |
Fate | Crashed May 3, 1943 |
Hot Stuff is the nickname of a
The aircraft crashed in Iceland en route to the USA while carrying Lt. Gen.
Combat history
Hot Stuff was part of the
Crash in Iceland
In early 1943 Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews needed to get back to Washington, D.C. He was Commander of the European Theater of Operations and known as the father of the Air Force. General Andrews knew Hot Stuff's pilot Capt. "Shine" Shannon and chose to fly back to the United States with him. The pilot, Capt. Shannon stated before the flight that he was "assigned to take Andrews home via Iceland." PFC Carroll Stewart, Gen. Andrews' aide and 93rd Bomb Group historian stated that "Captain Robert H. (Shine) Shannon of The Circus would have been going south, too, (to participate in Operation Tidal Wave, the Ploiești Raid) except his plane and crew were tabbed by Frank M. Andrews, gray-thatched European Theater Commander, for a hurried trip to the Pentagon." It was well known that General Andrews was in line for promotion and may have been going back to Washington, D.C., to be promoted to four star general and/or possibly assigned to lead the assault across the English Channel.[2] Hot Stuff had a scheduled refueling stop in Iceland but crashed into Mount Fagradalsfjall near the town of Grindavík, in bad weather on May 3, 1943. Fourteen of those on board were killed, including Andrews, Brigadier general Charles H. Barth Jr. and bishop Adna Wright Leonard;[3] only the tail gunner, George Eisel, survived.[4] [5]
Due to Andrews's death, the job of Supreme Allied Commander was assigned to General
A monument honoring the dead was unveiled near the crash site on 3 May 2018, 75 years after the crash.[7]
References
- ^ Herman, Ken (June 25, 2018). "Mission accomplished for Austinite's plans for Iceland Monument". Austin American Statesman. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "John H. Claiborne". Claybourn Genealogical Society. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ^ "Ten army officers died with Andrews in Iceland crash". The Buffalo News. United Press International. 6 May 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Toll in Iceland Accident Now 14; Storm Warning Went Unheeded," Washington Post, May 6, 1943.
- ^ Buescher, John. "The Memphis Belle Teachinghistory.org. Retrieved: 8 October 2011.
- ^ "In memory of Hot Stuff and General Andrews". Hit Iceland. Emstrur sf. Retrieved 22 February 2021.