George C. Weir
Lloyd Claiborne Weir | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "George" |
| Born | December 15, 1920 White County, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | May 3, 1943 (aged 22) Mount Fagradalsfjall, Iceland |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
George C. Weir (born Lloyd Claiborne Weir; December 15, 1920 – May 3, 1943) was the crew chief and master sergeant of the B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff, the first heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete twenty-five missions in Europe in World War II and the aircraft which crashed while carrying Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews.
Early life[edit]
Weir was born on December 15, 1920, in White County, Arkansas, to DeWitt Franklin Weir (1885–1921) and Sarah Frances Claiborne (1883–1930). His grandfather, John H. Claiborne (1842–1932), was conscripted into fighting for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War with the 25th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (then the 30th Arkansas Infantry).[1]
Service on the "Hot Stuff" Crew[edit]
In World War II Weir served in Europe with the United States Air Force as crew chief and master sergeant of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 41-23728, of the 8th Air Force out of RAF Bovingdon, England. The B-24, nicknamed "Hot Stuff," was part of the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Bomb Squadron. Hot Stuff flew its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, against long odds at a time when many planes were being shot down. Hot Stuff became the first heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete twenty-five missions in Europe in World War II and reached its 25th mission three-and-a-half months before the widely celebrated Memphis Belle. After Hot Stuff completed thirty-one missions, it was selected to return to the United States on May 3, 1943, to tour the country and help sell war bonds.[2]
Due to his service aboard the Hot Stuff, Weir received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal before returning to Hardwick Airfield, England, in late February 1943.
Crash in Iceland[edit]
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. Although unknown to most at the time, the real purpose of General Andrews's journey was that he was going back to Washington, D.C., to be blessed by Congress and the president, awarded his fourth star, and formally named Supreme Allied Commander in Europe to lead the assault across the English Channel.[1]
Hot Stuff had a scheduled refueling stop in Iceland but crashed into Mount Fagradalsfjall near Grindavik, Iceland, in bad weather on May 3, 1943. Thirteen on board, including George Weir, were killed. Only the tail gunner survived.[3] Because of Gen. Andrews's death, the job of Supreme Allied Commander was assigned to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower nine months later in February 1944. Additionally, because "Hot Stuff" was destroyed in the crash, the War Department chose to send the Memphis Belle home and celebrate it as the first bomber to reach 25 missions. Memphis Belle later inspired the making of two motion pictures: a 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, and a 1990 Hollywood feature film, Memphis Belle.[4]
In a subsequent diary entry a fellow soldier wrote about Weir, "I don't see how anyone could have been a better crew chief than George. He went beyond the call of duty in working on his plane. Time meant nothing when things needed to be done. The plane was a living thing to him and long after the most revered inspector would pronounce the plane fit, George would still be out there tinkering around making little adjustments, polishing the interior, and looking things over. . . . He was everything a good soldier should be -- loyal, capable, and industrious."[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "John H. Claiborne". Claybourn Genealogical Society. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Beach, Patrick (July 1, 2012). "Austinite's bomber beat Memphis Belle to record, researcher claims". Austin American Statesman.
- ↑ "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.
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