Last Belle Crewmember Dies:
Robert Hanson, 85, the last surviving member of the crew of the B-17 Memphis Belle, died Oct. 1 of heart illness at his home. Hanson was the radio operator for the famous bomber that was one of the first to complete 25 combat missions in World War II. The crew completed their last mission on May 17, 1943, and returned with the bomber to the states to help sell war bonds.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
