Information About the Memorial Ceremony Final

7/30/2019 Information About the Memorial Ceremony Final

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Memorial Ceremonyin Honour of Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews

and the other Crewmembers and Passengers who died in

the B-24D Liberator Bomber "Hot Stuff" Flight Accident inMt. Fagradalsfjall in Iceland on 3 May 1943.

Andrews Theater, Asbru, Keflavik Airport, Iceland on 3 May 2013

Keilir Aviation Academy will organize on 3 May 2013 in the Andrews Theater in Asbru, Keflavik Airporta Memorial Ceremony in honour of Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews and the other Crewmembers andPassengers those who died in the B-24D Liberator Bomber "Hot Stuff" flight accident in Mt.Fagradalsfjall in Iceland on 3 May 1943. The Memorial Ceremony is organized in partnership with theUS Embassy in Reykjavik, the US Air Force, The President of Iceland, the Icelandic Ministry of ForeignAffairs, The Icelandic Ministry of Interior and Transport, the Civil Aviation Administration, the IcelandicCoast Guard, the Icelandic Rescue Forces, ISAVIA, Icelandair, KADECO and AirTransportNews.

Lt. Gen. Frank Maxwell Andrews,U.S. Army Air Corps (1884-1943)

Commander of the European Theater of Operations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seal_of_the_US_Air_Force.svg


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The names of the fifteen persons in the B24 flight accident 3 May 1943

Crewmembers:

Capt. Robert H. Shine Shannon Pilot

Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews Copilot (Commander of the European Theater of Operations)Capt. James E. Gott Navigator

T/Sgt. Kenneth A. Jeffers - Radio Operator

S/Sgt. Lloyd C. Weir Crew Chief

S/Sgt. Paul H. McQueen - Gunner

S/Sgt. George A. Eisel Tail Gunner (Survivor)

Passangers:

Civilian Adna W. Leonard - Methodist Bishop and Chairman of the Corps of Chaplains

Col. Frank M. Miller - United States Army Chief of Chaplains

Maj. Robert H. Humphrey - United States Army Chaplain

Brig. Gen. Charles H. Barth-Gen. Andrews Chief of Staff

Capt. Joseph T. Johnson - Gen. Andrews Aide

Col. Morrow Krum Member ofGen. Andrews Staff

Lt. Col. Fred L. Chapman - United States Army

Maj. Theodore C. Tomad - United States Army


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Inter im Pro gram (Rev. 3.0)

Friday 3 May 2013 Meet at Andrews Theater in Asbru, Keflavik Airport

13.10 BusTransport to the location of the Memorial Monument at the Mt. Fargardalsfjall in Grindavik

Memorial Monument at the Mt. Fargradalsfjall in Grindavik

13.30 Welcome:Mrs. Brynds Gunnlaugsdttir, Chairman of the Town Council of GrindavikInauguration of a Plaque interim to the Monument

US Ambassador Luis ArreagaJim LuxThorsteinn MarteinssonOlafur Marteinsson

The Diamond Airplanes of the Keilir Aviaition Academy will fly from Fagradalsfjall over thelocation of the Monument at the Ceremony. 14.15 Bus Transport back to Andrews Theater

Memorial Ceremony at the Andrews Theater in Asbru, Keflavik AirportThe Memorial Ceremony will be broadcast on the Internet through the Keilir Network so all in service on USArmy Bases and NAVY ships can watch and take part!.

Friday 3 May 2013

14.30 Refreshments - Coffee

15.00 Welcome andPresentation of those who died in the flight accident in Mt. Fagradalsfjall

Hjalmar Arnason, Director of Keilir Atlantic Center of Excellence and Master of Ceremonies.

15.10 Memorial ServiceThe Chorus of the Keflavik ChurchThe Bishop of Iceland; Agnes M. Sigurardttir (to be confirmed)The Catholic Bishop of Reykjavik, Pierre Burcher (to be confirmed)

15.30 In Memory of those who died in Iceland in Military Service in the Second World WarThe President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson (to be confirmed)The US Ambassador, Luis Arreaga (to be confirmed)

16.00 The B-24D Liberator Bomber "Hot Stuff" flight accident in Mt. Fagradalsfjall on 3 May 1943.Frir Eydal, former Press Attache, US Air Force Base in Keflavik

16.15 Film - The B-24 Liberator"Hot Stuff,the first heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete 25missions in WWII (www.b24hotstuff.wikispaces.com) Jim Lux

16.30 Memorial Monument at the Mt. Fargradalsfjall in GrindavikJim Lux, Thorsteinn Marteinsson and OlafurMarteinsson

16.40 Memorial Monument at Andrews Theater in Asbru in honour of all those who died inmilitary service in Iceland in the Second World War as well as the Icelandic fishermen.

Jon Hjaltalin Magnusson, Conference Manager, Keilir Insitute of Technology

16.50 The Friends of Keflavik- Former US Military Members who served on the Keflavik Base.Bryndis Hjalmarsdottir, Project Manager

17.00 Closing CeremonyHjalmar Arnason, Director of Keilir Atlantic Center of Excellence

President Obama address from the White House through Skype (to be confirmed)and/orChief of Staff of the US Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh address from Pentagon (to be confirmed)

17.15 Reception by US Embassy at the Keilir Institute of Technology, the former US Base High School

Keilir in Asbru transition from US Military Base to a University Town and Innovation Centre

The US Ambassador, Luis Arreaga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etX1lid-8fs&feature=youtu.be


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A Memorial Monument Honoring the "HotStuff" Crew, Lt. Gen. Andrews and those

killed in the Flight Accident in Mt.Fagradalsfjall.

Two Icelanders Mr. Thorsteinn Marteinsson ([email protected]) and Mr. OlafurMarteinsson ([email protected]) have been instrumental in planning for a memorialmonument honoring the "Hot Stuff" crew, Lt. Gen. Andrews and those killed in the flightaccident in Mt. Fagradalsfjal.

Mr. Jim Lux has supported the idea of a monument by his good Icelandic friends. Jim thoughtit was a good one so decided to try to make it happen. Jim retired from IBM ProductMarketing and Development after 30 years of service, and as a history buff, he organized airshows for many years in San Marcos, Texas featuring the great airplanes of World War II. Hespent the last several years researching and seeking long overdue recognition for the B-24Liberator Hot Stuff, her crew, Lt. Gen. Andrews and those killed when Hot Stuff crashed intoMt. Fagradalsfjall in Iceland.

The Town Council of Grindavik where Mt. Fagradalsfjall is located has approved the site forthe Monument which has been supported by US Ambassador Luis Arreaga.

Example of the monument design. The Hot Stuff story is on the left and the Gen. Andrews

and those killed in the crash story listed is on the right.

To the right is a leaflet issued for the fund rasing for the monument.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Mt. Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes peninsuls. (Photo by Ingi Stgsson)

Mt. Fagradalsfjall

Mt. Fagradalsfjall is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula where the cross is located in

the middle of the map. Up to the left are the runways of the Keflavik International

Airport (Meeks Field during World War II).


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Frank Maxwell AndrewsLieutenant General, United States Army

courtesy of

Arlington National Cemetery Website

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fmandrew.htm

Commander of all Forces in Europe during the early stages of World War II, serving

with General Dwight D. Eisenhower at times. He was an outspoken proponent of air

power. He was born on February 3, 1884 in Nashville, Tennessee and was killed in an

aircraft accident in Iceland on May 3, 1943. He was buried in Section 3 of Arlington

National Cemetery. Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland is named in his honor.

L t. Gen. Fr ank M. Andrews, general officer in the United States Army and one of the

founding fathers of the United States Air Force. In leadership positions within the Army Air

Corps, he succeeded in advancing progress toward a separate and independent Air Force

where predecessors and allies such asBilly Mitchellhad failed. Andrews was the first head of

a centralized American air force and the first air officer to serve on the Army's general staff.

In early 1943, he took the place ofDwight D. Eisenhoweras commander of all U.S. troops in

the European Theater of Operations. After his death Lt. Gen. Eisenhower, who became the

34thPresident of the US 1953 to 1961, took again his place as the Commander of theEuropean operation.

Lt. Gen. Frank Maxwell Andrews,U.S. Army Air Corps (1884-1943)

Commander of the European Theater of Operations
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fmandrew.htmhttp://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fmandrew.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhowerhttp://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/FMApic2.jpghttp://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armyhttp://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fmandrew.htm


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L t. General F rank M . Andrewsdied in an aircraft accident at the Reykjanes peninsula on 3

May 1943. He was en route from Britain, together with fourteen members of his staff in a B-

24, when the aircraft encountered bad weather conditions and crashed into Mt. Fagradalsfjall

on Reykjanes peninsula close to the town of Grindavik. Only one person, crew member

Sergeant George Eisel, survived this tragic accident.

Among the 14 men who lost their lives in the accident were officers of Frank M. Andrews'

staff, a Bishop of the Methodist Church in the US, and, as stated above, all but one of the

crew of the aircraft. The funeral services of the men who died took place at the Reykjavk

Lutheran Cathedral and at the Landakot Catholic Cathedral, also in Reykjavk. American

officials and commanding officers of the American Armed Forces in Iceland were Frank M.

Andrews' pallbearers. All of the coffins were taken to the Fossvogur Cemetery in Reykjavk,

where they were laid to rest with full military honors. Present at the funeral on behalf of

Iceland, was the Governor of Iceland, Sveinn Bjrnsson, Icelandic ministers and the Bishop

of the National Church of Iceland. In February 1947 all these 14 coffins together with some

200 coffins of other Americans, who lost their lives in Iceland during the Second World War,

were transported to the US for burials in their respective hometowns. Lt. Gen. Andrews waslaid to rest in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Photo from the Fossvogur Cemetery in Reykjavk, where the Lt. Gen. Andrews and his 13 fellowAmericans were laid to rest with full military honors.

Their bodies were moved to the US, together with some 212 others, after the warand laid to restin their respective home towns.

L t. General Frank M axwell Andrewswas the highest ranking U.S. officer to die in combat

at the time, the first of three lieutenant generals to die in combat during the w ar.Joint Base

Andrewsin Maryland is named after him, as well asAndrews Barracks (a kaserne in Berlin,Germany), General Andrews Airport(demolished) in Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicandAndrews Avenue in Pasay City, Philippines.

The doors ofAndrews Theateron the Keflavik US Base in Iceland were opened in 1959 and

the theater was in full operation for as long the American Armed Forces had a facility in

Iceland until 2006.Andrews Theater is named in honor afterLt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews,

general officer in the United States Army and one of the founding fathers of the United States

Air Force.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Basehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Basehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Basehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Basehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Basehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marylandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marylandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasernehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Domingohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasay_Cityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasay_Cityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Domingohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasernehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marylandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Basehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrews_Air_Force_Base


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From the book: Frank M. Andrews: Marshalls Airman by DeWitt S. Copp

Andrews had said that when the end came he hoped it would be in the cockpit, and he got his wish.Everyone else who knew him or served under him deeply mourned his loss.Marshall, who delivered the eulogy at the memorial service for Andrews in Washington, said of him that he

was one of the Armys few great captains. To Johnny Andrews, Marshall had written: He was a great

leader and in his post abroad was on his way to rendering a tremendous service to the Allied cause.

History does not reveal its alternatives, and Andrewss sudden death leaves some haunting questions. Hadhe lived, would he have commanded the Normandy invasion, as so many of his contemporaries believed?

Certainly Marshall had placed him in the position to oversee the buildup for that then unresolved strategy.And what then? Whatever his future might have been, Andrewss star was in swift ascendancy when it wassnuffed out, and all the bright promise of tomorrow became reflections on the ordeals of yesterday, the

yesterday of a military leader whose name will ever by joined with strategic air power and the fight for air

independence.


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"Hot Stuff"crewmembers First to complete 25 mission in the 8th Air Force in

the Second World War

Capt. Robert H. Shine Shannon Pilot, Washington, Iowa1st Lt. John H. Lentz Copilot, Chicago, IL.

Capt. James E. Gott Navigator, Berea, KY

1st Lt. Robert T. Jacobson Bombardier, Cedars, MS

S/Sgt. George A. Eisel Tail Gunner, Columbus, OH

S/Sgt. George D. Farley Gunner, Wellsville, NY

T/Sgt. Kenneth A. Jeffers Radio Operator, Oriskany Falls, NY

S/Sgt. Joseph L. Craighead Engineer/Gunner, Bedford, VA

S/Sgt. Grant C. Rondeau Engineer/Gunner, Racine, WI

S/Sgt. Paul H. McQueen Gunner, Endwell, NJ


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B-24 Hot Stuff on her third mission off the coast of France when this photograph was taken on Oct. 31, 1942

B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff. A Story of Triumph and Tragedy.by Jim Lux

The B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff heavy bomber and her crew were the first in the 8th Air Force to complete25 missions in World War II. Hot Stuff was ordered back to the United States to tour the country andhelp sell war bonds.Lt. General Frank M. Andrews, Commander of the European Theater of Operations, was ordered back

to Washington, D. C. He contacted his friend Col. Ted Timberlake, Commander of the 93rdBombardment Group, and requested to fly back to the United States with Capt. Robert ShineShannon whom he also knew.Gen. Andrews was an experienced pilot and would take the copilots seat. Capt. Shannon wasunaware until a short time before they were to leave for the United States that Gen. Andrews was alsotaking two members of his staff, a civilian Methodist Bishop who was also Chairman of the Corps ofChaplains, and two Army Chaplains. The B-24 was not designed to carry that many people so five HotStuff crewmembers were bumped from the flight. Hot Stuff took off from Bovington, Field in Englandfor the United States with interim stops planned for Prestwick, Scotland and Reykjavik, Iceland. It wasdecided to bypass Prestwick so Hot Stuff continued on toward Iceland. The weather was good formost of the flight, but started to deteriorate about 60 nautical miles off the south coast of Iceland wherethey encountered low visibility, rain and snow. They circled above a British airfield at Kaldadarnesbut high winds and heavy rain prevented them from landing. They continued west along the south

coast about sixty feet above the water in sight of land and attempted to land at Meeks Field in Keflavikbut the ceiling was so low they missed the airfield. They decided to return to The British Airfield atKaldadarnes and climbed to an altitude of about 850 ft. but, because of poor visibility, high winds andrain they were off course and slammed into 1,100 ft. high Mt. Fagardalsfjall. All onboard were killedexcept the tail gunner, George Eisel. Although he was only slightly injured, his foot was caught in thetail section and he was unable to free himself. The plane caught fire and George thought he was goingto burn to death or be killed by exploding ammunition, but a heavy rain put out the fire and help arrivedabout 24 hours after the crash.

With the exception of Gen. Andrews, everyone onboard Hot Stuff was soon forgotten. Hot Stuff andthe surviving crewmembers who were the first to complete 25 missions in the 8th Air Force were alsoforgotten. Gen. Jacob E. Smart, former USAF Chief of Staff and Aide to Gen. Hap Arnold during WorldWar II, agreed that; Shannons Hot Stuffwas the first in the 8th Air Force to complete 25 missions

even though the heralded Memphis Belle, B-17 Flying Fortress, wears the label.Camp Springs Army Airfield, Maryland was renamed Andrews Field (now Joint Base Andrews NavalAir Facility) for Lt. Gen. Andrews on February 7, 1945. However, he too has lost his rightful place inhistory. Few people remember it was Gen. Andrews who advocated a separate Air Force. Heoutranked Gen. Eisenhower and replaced him as Commander of the European Theater of Operationsand probably, according to Gen. Hap Arnold, would have been given the job of Supreme AlliedCommander had he not been killed in the Flight Accident on May 3, 1943.

Jim Lux retired from IBM Product Marketing and Development after 30 years of service. A historybuff, he organized air

shows for many years in San Marcos, Texas featuring the great airplanes of World War II. He spent the last several years

researching and seeking long overdue recognition for the B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff, her crew, Lt. Gen. Andrews and those

killed when Hot Stuff crashed into Mt. Fagradalsfjall in Iceland. Jim has supported the idea of a monument by his good

Icelandic friend Doddi Marteinsson. Jim thought it was a good one so decided to try to make it happen.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/B-24D_LIberator_Hot_Stuff_serial_number_41-23728.jpg


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The B-24D Liberator Bomber "Hot Stuff" Flight Accidentin Mt. Fagradalsfjall in Iceland on 3 May 1943.

Translated excerpt from the chapter Flight Accidents in the book:

From World War to Defense Ag reement, The Keflavik Base 1942

1951by Fridthor Eydal

Flying the North Atlantic routes was difficult and often dangerous, especially in the early years whenairfields and navigation and communications equipment were incomplete. Pilots were poorly trainedfor such long flights at high latitudes and reliable information about the ever-changing weather enroutewas scarce. Conditions improved with time, however, but the risk remained significant and accidentscould not be prevented. Fortunately, they were by no means as frequent as had been predicted at theopening of these pioneer routes.

The costliest accidents in human lives in flights to and from Iceland occurred when a B-24 Liberatorbomber with Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews and entourage onboard crashed and burned in

poor weather on Mt Fagradalsfjall near Grindavik on 3 May 1943, and a C-54 Skymaster carrying 18wounded soldiers from Britain and a crew of 6 disappeared on the way from Keflavik to Newfoundlandon 26 July 1944. This was the only such accident to occur in the transportation of 20 thousand sickand wounded who went by air along this route.

The B-24D Liberator bomber "Hot Stuff", as the crew called her, was on her way to Reykjavik with thenewly appointed commander of all US forces in Europe, Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, who planned tovisit his forces in Iceland. Andrews was one of the pioneers in US Air Force history and primeadvocate of the purchase of the famous Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft in large numbersjust before the war. He was a friend of the Commanding General of the Iceland Base Command, MajorGeneral Charles H. Bonesteel, who was soon to be transferred to Washington. Andrews was also anda close advisor to General George C. Marshall, US Army Chief of Staff, who had appointed Andrewsto take over as the Army commander in Europe to plan air strikes on Germany when General

Eisenhower, later US President, took over command of all allied forces in Europe and the conduct ofthe war in North Africa.

Andrews was a skilled pilot and chose to travel in an operational aircraft that he was qualified to flyeven though it lacked all comforts of the passenger aircraft that flew this route regularly. With Andrewson the trip were his deputy and staff officers and Bishop Adna Wright Leonard of the MethodistEpiscopal Church in the United States who was on a tour of overseas bases.

"Hot Stuff" had completed the highest number of bomber missions over enemy territory in the 8th AirForce and Captain Robert H. Shannon had only one more attack mission to complete before returningto the United States. The flight started at Bovington Field in England with General Andrews flying asco-pilot. The B-24 had a normal crew of ten, but this time the copilot and three other crewmembersstayed behind to make room for the nine passengers on the trip. Air transport in the North Atlantic was

controlled by the Prestwick Air Traffic Control Center in Scotland where all transiting aircraft wererequired to land to receive briefings on communications procedures, ship convoys and weatherconditions on the planned route. No aircraft was to depart until the Royal Air Force air traffic controlcenter at Reykjavk had given approval, but this could be delayed extensively due to weather or airtraffic. General Andrews had had a bad experience with delays at Prestwick and was determined toavoid a stopover. Arrangements were made for the necessary flight information to be provided prior tothe departure from Bovington, but these were not received in time. Flight approval was granted only toPrestwick as weather forecast was not available for Iceland. While flying over Scotland, a request wasmade from the aircraft for weather information from Iceland to be transmitted and it was clear thatAndrews intended not to land at Prestwick. The weather was bad in Iceland, cloud ceiling at onethousand feet with visibility of only three and a half kilometers. For a while it seemed that the aircraftintended to land at Stornoway in Scotland, but radio conditions were poor. The aircraft was last heardtrying to call a communications station in Iceland but on the wrong radio frequency. The weather was

good on the way to Iceland, but started to deteriorate at about 50-60 nautical miles off the South Coast


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where rain and low visibility was encountered. The aircraft was flown below the cloud ceiling and haddescended to an altitude of 500 feet when landfall was made seven nautical miles east ofAlvidruhamrar Point at 13:49 Greenwich time. The cloud ceiling remained extremely low as the aircraftheaded west along the coast at only between 40 and 200 feet. About half an hour later the aircraftwas sighted at RAF Station Kaldadarnes, near Selfoss, while circling at about 500 feet over the airfieldin high winds and heavy driving rain. No radio contact was made with the aircraft but light signals were

used to direct it for a landing. No such attempt was made, however, and the aircraft turned west andlater north along the coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula at an altitude of only about 60 feet. The RAFRadio Direction Finding Station at Sandgerdi heard a brief transmission from the aircraft but contactwas not established. Other radio stations attempted to contact but also but failed.

It was now clear to Captain Shannon and General Andrews that a landing would not be made inReykjavik (RAF Air Station) under these conditions as the runways were short and surrounded by builtup areas. Instead, they decided to attempt a landing at the recently completed Meeks Field at Keflavikor return to RAF Kaldadarnes if unsuccessful. Air defense radars and radio stations in the region didnot function well in the adverse weather conditions and the recently installed navigational beacon atStafnes was also unreliable in such weather. Radar contact was lost when the bomber turned to theeast in search of Meeks Field over Stafnes Point. When visual contact with the airfield was not madethe Aircraft Commander informed his men that he intended to turn back to RAF Kaldadarnes the same

way as they had come. The aircraft was flown very low and twisted and turned like in an air battle toavoid low cloud pockets and to keep the sea shore in sight. When approaching Festarfjall Hill east ofGrindavik all visibility seems to have been suddenly lost and the pilots missed the coast where itturns sharply to the SE at the head of Hraunsvik Cove. The aircraft swayed to the north and momentslater, at about 15:30, crashed and burned just below the crest of the Kast Ridge on the south westside of Mt Fagradalsfjall.1

Only one of the 15 people on board the aircraft survived the crash. The tail gunner Staff SergeantGeorge A. Eisel of Columbus, Ohio, remained wedged inside his buckled gun turret until freed by anArmy search party that reached the crash site 27 hours later. He described the experience in aninterview with the weekly newspaper of the Iceland Base Command, The White Falcon, and Icelandicnewspapers:"We never knew what hit us. The Visibility was down to about 40 feet. We had passed one airport and

headed for toward our pre-chosen landing field, but when the ceiling dropped we turned back and triedto locate the first airport. Apparently nobody was aware of our danger because I didnt hear anycomment over the intra-plane phone before the crash. The others must have been killed instantly. Iwas conscious from the time we struck until the rescue party arrived, although pinned beneath the tailturret which folded back and I remained in that position for 27 hours. The plane went up in flames andammunition started to go off on all sides of me. I thought I was a goner, but rain began to fall thankGod for that! and soon the fire was extinguished. I couldnt see any of the others, but realized fromthe debris around me that there wasnt chance that they had escaped death.

Sgt. Eisel was 33 years old and had 200 hours behind him on combat missions in North Africa andover Italy and France. He had also had a narrow escape before when his plane was shot down inNorth Africa, and added, I guess, Im the luckiest person this side of heaven. Eisel escapedremarkably well from the accident suffering only minor cuts, bruised ribs and vertebrae. He was

released from military service after medical rehabilitation in Florida on 10th May 1944.

Three detailed investigations were conducted to determine the cause of the accident, and the resultswere all as has been described. Investigators considered it possible - but not likely - that the aircrafthad turned to the northwest to intercept the eastern approach leg of the navigation beacon at MeeksField that passed over the town of Grindavik. Eisel believed that the pilot had lost sight of the shore.Photo: The tail section and wings remained the only large parts left of the aircraft after the crash andfire that wrecked the fuselage. (NARA 111-SC-169532)Photo: Soldiers of the Iceland Base Command carry bodies of the deceased from the wreck site. A

Sgt. Eisel stated that he had recognized that Captain Shannon was at the controls by the way theaircraft was being flown, and not General Andrews who had had the helm at the beginning of the flight.General Andrews death gave the British and American Counter Intelligence services an opportunity to

use it in their extensive web of deception that was being spun to mislead the Germans in preparation


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for the invasion of continental Europe. A British-run double agent in Reykjavik, Ib Arnason Riis, sentthe Germans false information that Andrews had been on his way to Iceland to inspect landing craftthat were being readied for an invasion of Norway.The explanation of Andrews flight to Iceland that fateful day to the effect that General George C.Marshall, who became US Secretary of State after the war and after whom the "Marshall" - program ofEuropean reconstruction was named, had recalled Andrews for consultations in Washington. Thus,

Andrews and entourage supposedly were headed to the US at the time. It has also been maintainedthat the aircraft crew had already completed the desired number of combat missions and was on theway home.The accident reports, however, leave no doubt that the purpose and the details of the fateful flightwere as described above.Funeral services for General Andrews and his entourage were held with full military honors at theLutheran and Catholic cathedrals in Reykjavik followed by burial in the US military plot in theFossvogur Cemetary in Reykjavik on 8 may 1943. The bodies together with the bodies of 212 otherUS personnel who perished in Iceland in WW II were exhumed and transported to the United Statesfor final disposition in 1947.

From World War to Defense Ag reement, The Keflavik B ase 1942

1951by Fridthor Eydal


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Photos by the Icelandic and the US Base Rescue Team after the flight accident in

Mt. Fagradalsfjall on 4th

May 1943

Photo: Investigators search the wreckage of Gen. Andrews Liberator aircraft at the crash s ite. In thedistance is Meeks Field (Keflavik International Airport) and the town of Keflavik.

(NARA 342-FH-79032AC)


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Soldiers of the Iceland Base Command carry bodies of the deceased from the wreck site


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Funeral services for Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews and the other Crewmember andPassangers who died in the B-24D Liberator Bomber "Hot Stuff" Flight Accident

in Mt. Fagradalsfjall in Iceland on 3 May 1943.

Funeral services for General Andrews and his entourage were held with full military honors at the

Domkirkjan Lutheran and the Landakot Catholic Cathedrals in Reykjavik followed by burial in the USmilitary plot in the Fossvogur Cemetary in Reykjavik on 8 may 1943.

Photos from the Domkirkjan Lutheran and the Landakot Catholic Cathedrals in Reykjavik

American officials and commanding officers of the American Armed Forces in Iceland were Frank M.Andrews' pallbearers. All of the coffins were taken to the Fossvogur Cemetery in Reykjavk, wherethey were laid to rest with full military honors. Present at the funeral on behalf of Iceland, was theGovernor of Iceland, Sveinn Bjrnsson, Icelandic ministers and the Bishop of the National Church ofIceland. In February 1947 all these 14 coffins together with some 200 coffins of other Americans, wholost their life in Iceland during the second world war, were transported to the US for burials in thehometown of respective soldier. Lt. Capt. Andrews was laid again to rest in the Arlington NationalCemetery.

Photo from the Fossvogur Cemetery in Reykjavk, where the Lt. Capt. Andrews and his thirteenUS Citizens were laid to rest with full military honors.


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News in the Icelandic Newspaper Morgunbladid from the flight accident in Mt. Fagradalsfjall

the death of Ltg. Gen. Andrews


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News in the Icelandic Newspaper Morgunbladid Ltg. Gen. Andrews

the US Commander of the European Theater of Operations had died in the flight accident.

News in the Icelandic Newspaper Morgunbladid from the Funeral services for General Andrews andhis entourage were held with full military honors at the Domkirkjan Lutheran and the Landakot Catholic

Cathedrals in Reykjavik followed by burial in the US military plot in the Fossvogur Cemetary in

Reykjavik on 8 may 1943.


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The Only Survivor of the B-24D Liberator Bomber "Hot Stuff" Flight Accidentin Mt. Fagradalsfjall in Iceland on 3 May 1943.

Only one of the 15 people on board the aircraft survived the crash. The tail gunner Staff SergeantGeorge A. Eisel of Columbus, Ohio, remained wedged inside his buckled gun turret until freed by anArmy search party that reached the crash site 27 hours later. He described the experience in an

interview with the weekly newspaper of the Iceland Base Command, The White Falcon, and Icelandicnewspapers:"We never knew what hit us. The Visibility was down to about 40 feet. We had passed one airport andheaded for toward our pre-chosen landing field, but when the ceiling dropped we turned back and triedto locate the first airport.Apparently nobody was aware of our danger because I didnt hear anycomment over the intra-plane phone before the crash. The others must have been killed instantly. Iwas conscious from the time we struck until the rescue party arrived, although pinned beneath the tailturret which folded back and I remained in that position for 27 hours. The plane went up in flames andammunition started to go off on all sides of me. I thought I was a goner, but rain began to fall thankGod for that! and soon the fire was extinguished. I couldnt see any of the others, but realized fromthe debris around me that there wasnt chance that they had escaped death.

Sgt. Eisel was 33 years old and had 200 hours behind him on combat missions in North Africa and

over Italy and France. He had also had a narrow escape before when his plane was shot down inNorth Africa, and added, I guess, Im the luckiest person this side of heaven.

Eisel escaped remarkably well from the accident suffering only minor cuts, bruised ribs and vertebrae.He was released from military service after medical rehabilitation in Florida on 10th May 1944.

Photo: Icelandic journalists var Gumundsson,Hersteinn Plsson and Jn rarinsson interview thelone survivor, George A. Eisel, in his hospital bed at Helgafell General Hospital in Mosfellsbaer near

Reykjavik. Eisel was 33 and had previously survived a plane crash in North Africa. He had flownnumerous attack missions over enemy territory in Italy, France and Germany and was awarded for

heroic action.(NARA 111-SC-171244)


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.

Phot: Sgt. George A. Eisel, who was the only survivor of the Iceland plane crash where Lt. Gen. FrankM. Andrews and 13 others met death, grins from his hospital bed in Iceland. The Columbus, Ohio

soldier has survived another crash in North Africa that took the lives of three comrades. He holds the

DFC, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart.Credit: U.S. Army Signal Corps photo via OWI Radiophoto from Acme.

One survivor fr om the F li ght Accident

A news in an Icelandic newspaper Morgunbaldid on May 4, 1953 that Sgt. George Eisel had

survived the crash and was placed in a Military Hosspital in Keflavik.


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Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washingtonwww.andrews.af.mil

Camp Springs Army Airfield, Maryland was establishen in 1942. On Februray 7, 1945 it was renamed

Andrews Field(now Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility) fo rLieutenant GeneralFrank M.Andrews(18841943) former Commanding General of United States Forces in the European Theaterof Operations during World War II. However, he too has lost his rightful place in history. Few peopleremember it was Gen. Andrews who advocated a separate Air Force . He outranked Gen. Eisenhowerand replaced him as Commander of the European Theater of Operations and probably, according toGen. Hap Arnold, would have been given the job of Supreme Allied Commander had he not beenkilled in the Flight Accident on May 3, 1943.

Andrews is widely known for serving as the home base of operations for the aircraft that serves thePresident of the United States, Air Force One.The host unit at Andrews is the 11th Wing (11 WG),assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. A non-flying wing, the 11 WG is responsible formaintaining emergency reaction rotary-wing airlift and other National Capital Region contingencyresponse capabilities critical to national security, and for organizing, training, equipping and deploying

combat-ready forces for Air and Space Expeditionary Forces (AEFs).

Joint Base Andrews Naval Air

Facility Washington

Air Force District of Washington

US Navyaerial image - 16 May 2010

Air Force One

SAM 28000, one of the two VC-25s used as Air Force One,

above Mount Rushmore
http://www.andrews.af.mil/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Generalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_M._Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_M._Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_M._Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Theater_of_Operationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Theater_of_Operationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Winghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_District_of_Washingtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Navyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Navyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VC-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VC-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Force_One_over_Mt._Rushmore.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Navyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joint_Base_Andrews_aerial_photo_16_May_2010.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Force_District_of_Washington.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_District_of_Washingtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Winghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Theater_of_Operationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Theater_of_Operationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_M._Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_M._Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Generalhttp://www.andrews.af.mil/


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Andrews Theater at the Keilir Atlantic Center of ExcellencyThe doors ofAndrews Theaterwere opened in 1959 and the theater was in full operation for as longthe American Armed Forces had a facility in Iceland until 2006. Andrews Theater is named in honorafterLt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, general officer in the United States Army and one of the foundingfathers of the United States Air Force. The Andrews Theater was renewed in 2010 and has some 500comfortable seats and excellent sound and film equipment for international conferences.

Keilir Conference on Eyjafjallajkull and Aviation

September 15 - 16, 2010, Andrews Theater, Keflavik, IcelandKeilir Aviation Academy organize in 2010 an International Conference on the effects of the volcanic eruption in

Eyjafjallajkull in Iceland on aviation in cooperation with the President of Iceland, the Icelandic Ministry of

Transport, the Civil Aviation Administration, ISAVIA, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, Institute of Earth

Sciences at University of Iceland, Icelandair, ICAO, IATA, ATA, AEA, the US Embassy in Iceland and the

Russian Federations Embassy in Iceland.

Some 350 delegates from 40 countries attended this Aviation Conference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army


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Keilir is an educational institution founded in 2007. The name Keilir, Atlantic Center of Excellence,symbolizes Iceland's position in the globalized world; with the goals of the institute being to build upknowledge, teaching and research at a university level within the international academic community.

Keilir is building up an educational community on the site of the former US Military Air-Base in Keflaviknow called sbr Enterprise Park and is a leader in rewriting the possibilities for Icelandic educationthrough innovative approaches in bringing together businesses and academia, knowledge and financeon international base.

The purpose of Keilir is to create and disseminate knowledge in an active partnership with domesticand international schools, companies and other economic partners. Values that guide Keilir, AtlanticCenter of Excellence are: research and development, quality, results, knowledge and profits supportedby the local community, Icelandic economy, Icelandic society, owners, students and staff. Major

stakeholders in Keilir are the University of Iceland, Islandsbanki, Icelandair Group, HS GeothermalPower, Reykjavik Energy, Icelandic Geosurvey, Geysir Green Energy and others.

Keilir consists of four different schools: Aviation Academy, Health Academy, Institute of Technologyand a Preliminary Department where the main objective is to prepare students, who have a vocationaltraining and/or sufficient practical experience in industry, with the knowledge and competencynecessary for further studies at university level. Each School has its own aims, in accordance withKeilir's objectives, and builds on the importance of an International Airport and environmentally friendlyresources besides collecting and using existing knowledge in the surrounding area.

Keilir Aviation Academy offers professional flight training, headed by highly experienced staff of airlinepilots and instructors along with excellent affordable housing and brand new Diamond DA20, DA40and DA42 aircraft. As a former NATO base in Iceland, Keflavik International Airport (BIKF) has two3000m runways and is the Icelandic gateway between Europe and the United States. Theinternational air traffic is an added bonus to the pilot training experience. Excellent airline connectionsfrom Keflavk to the U.K. give trainee pilots many daily options on flights to London Heathrow, LondonGatwick, Manchester and Glasgow.

Kadeco the Keflavik Development Company organizes the ASBRU Enterprise Park in the reinventedformer NATO military base facilties next to the Keflavik Internation Airport. ASBRU offers ambitiousacademic programs at Keilir, a univeristy campus, a business incubator, as well as many otherexciting projects such as a green energy reserach center, a health village and an International DataCenter.

Keilir Atlantic Center of Excellence

Keilisbraut 775, IS 235, Asbru, Reykjanesbaer, IcelandTel. +354 578 4000, [email protected], www.keilir.net
mailto:[email protected]://www.keilir.net/http://www.keilir.net/mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Information About the Memorial Ceremony Final