World War II Honoree

Martin Andrews

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Port Jefferson, New York

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 423RD BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 306TH BOMB GROUP AS A CAPTAIN IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS FROM 1941 TO 1945. BASED IN ENGLAND WITH HIS 10 MAN CREW, AND THEY RAN BOMBING MISSIONS OVER GERMANY. IN MAY 1943, TWO ENGINES OF THE B-17 HE WAS PILOTING WERE SHOT OUT, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO LAND THE CRAFT SAFELY IN SWITZERLAND. HE AND HIS CREW WERE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. EARLIER THAT DAY, ANDREWS HAD EXCUSED THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF HIS CREW, KENNETH ROOD, 18, BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY INJURED WHEN HIS JEEP TURNED OVER ON THE WAY TO THE AIR FIELD. NOW WITHOUT A CREW, ROOD FLEW AS A GUNNER ON ANOTHER B-17 FIGHTER AND WAS KILLED. HE WAS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE CREW THAT DIED. ANDREWS WAS HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR FROM 1943 TO 1944 AND WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL.