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Frank Maxwell Andrews

Lieutenant General
Frank Maxwell Andrews
FMApic2.jpg
Nickname(s) "Andy"
Born (1884-02-03)February 3, 1884
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Died May 3, 1943(1943-05-03) (aged 59)
Mount Fagradalsfjall, Iceland
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1906–1943
Rank US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant General
Commands held 1st Pursuit Group
General Headquarters Air Force
Panama Air Force
Caribbean Defense Command
U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East
European Theater of Operations
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews (February 3, 1884 – May 3, 1943) was a senior officer of the United States Army and one of the founders of the United States Army Air Forces, which was later to become 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 as Billy Mitchell had 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 of General Dwight D. Eisenhower as commander of all U.S. troops in the European Theater of Operations.

General Andrews was killed in an airplane accident during an inspection tour in Iceland in 1943. He was the first of four lieutenant generals in the U.S. Army to die during the war, the others being Lesley J. McNair, Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. and Millard Harmon. Joint Base Andrews in Maryland (formerly Andrews Air Force Base) is named after him, as well as Andrews Barracks (a kaserne in Berlin, Germany), Frank Andrews Boulevard at Alexandria International Airport (the former England AFB), in Louisiana, General Andrews Airport (demolished) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Andrews Engineering Building Eglin Air Force Base, Andrews Avenue in Pasay, Philippines and Andrews Theater at Keflavík Naval Base, Iceland.


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