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Joseph C. McConnell

(Redirected fromJoseph C. McConnell, Jr.)

Joseph Christopher McConnell Jr.(30 January 1922 – 25 August 1954) was aUnited States Air Forcefighter pilotwho was the top Americanflying aceduring theKorean War.[1]A native ofDover, New Hampshire,Captain McConnell was credited with shooting down 16MiG-15swhile flyingNorth American F-86 Sabres.He was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross,Silver Star,and theDistinguished Flying Crossfor his actions in aerial combat. McConnell was the first American triplejet-on-jetfighter aceand is still the top-scoring American jet ace.

Joseph Christopher McConnell Jr.
McConnell with his F-86,Beauteous Butch II,following his last mission in Korea
Born(1922-01-30)January 30, 1922
Dover, New Hampshire
DiedAugust 25, 1954(1954-08-25)(aged 32)
Edwards Air Force Base,California
Buried
Victor Valley Memorial Park,Victorville, California
AllegianceUnited States
Service/ branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1940–1954
RankCaptain
Unit448th Bomb Group
51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal(4)

Early life

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McConnell was born on January 30, 1922, inDover, New Hampshire.He enlisted in theU.S. Armyon October 15, 1940, and served in theU.S. Army Medical Corpsuntil entering the Aviation Cadet Program.

Military service

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World War II

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McConnell entered theU.S. Army Air ForcesAviation Cadet Program in 1943 duringWorld War II.His dream of becoming a pilot was dashed when, instead of being sent to pilot training, he was assigned tonavigatortraining. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received hisnavigator wingson September 18, 1944. He next completedConsolidated B-24 Liberatortraining and joined the448th Bomber Groupin England in January 1945. He flew 60 combat missions in Europe as a B-24 Liberator navigator.[2]Research in 2023 bystoriesofthe448thhas showed this figure to be erroneous, the actual figure being much less. He remained in the Army Air Forces after the war and entered pilot training in 1946. McConnell finally achieved his goal of becoming a pilot,[2]receiving his USAF pilot wings on February 25, 1948, atWilliams AFBinArizona.He then served in various fighter squadrons of the USAF.


Korean War

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McConnell being rescued on 12 April 1953
Air Force aces Joseph McConnell andManuel "Pete" Fernandezmeet with PresidentDwight D. Eisenhowerat the White House in May 1953.

TheKorean Warbegan on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. As the war continued to spread throughout the Korean peninsula, McConnell sought to become part of it. He was assigned to the39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadronof the51st Fighter-Interceptor WinginKoreain September 1952. Gifted with exceptional eyesight, McConnell proved to be an aggressive MiG hunter, but he did not shoot down his first enemy aircraft until the following year. He scored all of his victories during a four-month period from 14 January to 18 May 1953.[3]

Captain McConnell flew at least three different F-86 Sabres, all named "Beauteous Butch". The name referred to the nickname of his wife, Pearl "Butch" Brown. His first eight kills were scored in an F-86E-10 (serial number 51–2753,buzz numberFU-753). The second Sabre was an F-86F-15 (serial number 51–12971, buzz number FU-971). McConnell shot down a MiG-15 piloted by Soviet aceSemyon Fedorets,however, his Sabre was also badly damaged and was forced to bail out. This dramatic mutual kill started with the MiG-15 ambushing the Sabre and manage to damage the Sabre. McConnell reacted quickly and barrel-rolled to the Mig's six and blasted it out of the sky[4]McConnell ejected over theYellow Sea.He was rescued within minutes by an American helicopter.[5]The next day he returned to the air and shot down another MiG.[2]The final Sabre McConnell flew in combat was an F-86F-1 (serial number 51–2910, buzz number FU-910). This aircraft was repainted following his final mission, with the name being changed to "Beauteous Butch II". McConnell, during his last combat mission on 18 May 1953, destroyed two and damaged one of twenty-eight MiG-15 type aircraft over North Korea, bringing his total victory count to 16 destroyed plus 5 damaged and making him America's first triple jet ace.[1]Immediately after his 16th air victory, McConnell was sent back to the United States, along withManuel "Pete" Fernandez,the top Air Force ace (14.5 air victories) of the4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing.McConnell met with the President at theWhite Houseand was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross(DSC) for his actions on 18 May 1953, America's second-highest decoration for valor.[5]

It's the teamwork out here that counts. The lone wolf stuff is out.Your life always depends on your wingman and his life on you. I may get credit for a MiG, but it's the team that does it, not myself alone.

— Joseph C. McConnell, reflecting on his air victories[1]

Radio broadcast

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Captain McConnell appeared as a contestant on the 10 February 1954 airing of the comedy quiz program "You Bet Your Life" starringGroucho Marx.[6]

Death

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McConnell returned to his home inApple Valley, California,and was stationed atGeorge Air Force Base,California where he was assigned to the445th Fighter Squadronand continued flying F-86s. On 6 August 1953, the people of Apple Valley gave a new home, the "Appreciation House", to Capt. McConnell. The house was completed in 45 hours with all land, material, and labor donated. In 1954, he was temporarily assigned to the service test program for the new F-86H Sabre. This was the last and most powerful version of the Sabre, and was intended to be a nuclear-capable fighter-bomber. On 25 August 1954, while testing the fifth production F-86H-1-NA (serial number 52-1981) atEdwards Air Force Base,McConnell was killed in a crash near the base following a control malfunction.[7]The cause of the accident was attributed to an incorrectly installed bolt. Then-MajorChuck Yeagerwas assigned to investigate the crash and replicated the malfunction at a much higher altitude. This height advantage allowed him to safely regain control of the aircraft before it hit the desert floor.[8]

The 1955 filmThe McConnell Story,starringAlan LaddandJune Allyson,chronicles his life story. The bookSabre Jet Ace(1959) by Charles Ira Coombs is a fictionalized biography for young readers covering his experiences as a fighter pilot in Korea.

McConnell's wife, Pearl "Butch" McConnell, died in 2008 at the age of 86. She never remarried and was buried with Captain McConnell at Victor Valley Memorial Park inVictorville, California.

Military decorations

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USAF Pilot badge
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal
with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation Army Good Conduct Medal American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with two bronzecampaign stars 		World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal
with two bronze campaign stars 		Air Force Longevity Service Award
with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation United Nations Korea Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Distinguished Service Cross citation

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Distinguished Service Cross

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain Joseph McConnell Jr., United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Pilot with the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, FIFTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 18 May 1953. Leading two F-86s on an air superiority mission over North Korea, he sighted a formation of twenty-eight MIG-15 type aircraft. Determined to accomplish his mission and with complete disregard for the numerical odds against him, he immediately attacked. Although under fire himself, he pressed his attack to such extent that he completely disorganized the enemy formation, destroying one of the MIGs and damaging another. Several enemy aircraft were then firing at him but, seeing that the other Sabre in his flight was also being fired upon, he completely ignored enemy cannon fire directed at himself and destroyed the MIG that was pursuing his wingman. These victories, in spite of counterattacks by such superior numbers, completely unnerved the enemy to the extent that they withdrew across the Yalu before further attacks could be made. Through his courage, keen flying ability and devotion to duty, Captain McConnell reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.[9]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^abcFarris, Phillip.1990/0690jetwar.aspx "Jet War."Air Force Magazine,Air Force Association,Volume 73, Number 6, June 1990. Archival retrieval: 10 July 2011.
  2. ^abcGurney 1958, p. 248
  3. ^Shores 1975, p. 142.
  4. ^"Clash of Titans over Korea".28 June 2018.
  5. ^abShores 1975, p. 143.
  6. ^"Broadcast."You Bet Your Life,1954. Retrieved: 28 December 2015.
  7. ^"The Crash of the F-86H: aka-'The McConnell Site', 25 August 1954."Check-Six,11 July 2012. Retrieved: 13 May 2013.
  8. ^Coombs 1961, pp. 249–251.
  9. ^"Joseph McConnell - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor".valor.militarytimes.

Bibliography

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