Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr. History Page

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Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr. History Page Air Force Capt. Joseph C. McConnell, Jr. is the all-time No. 1 Jet Ace in American history.

10/17/2026

In 1940, Joe McConnell enlisted in the Army with hopes of becoming a pilot. Instead he became a medic. Through determination and persistence, he eventually became a navigator on a B-24 Liberator based in England during World War II.

My book reveals some of the funny, surprising and wild stories of his time in the Eighth Air Force — stories that shed light on his personality that led him to become the greatest MiG killer during the Korean War.

Not far away from where Lt. McConnell was based in England, actor Jimmy Stewart flew 20 B-24 missions. The new film “Jimmy” focuses on Stewart and his time during and after World War II. It opens Nov. 6.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F2DQVqHPt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

After returning to a hero’s welcome in 1953, Capt. McConnell was assigned as a flight instructor at his previous base, G...
08/24/2026

After returning to a hero’s welcome in 1953, Capt. McConnell was assigned as a flight instructor at his previous base, George AFB in Victorville, Calif. Soon he managed a TDY assignment as a test pilot at the Flight Test Center at nearby Edwards AFB.

Happy in their brand-new house in Apple Valley, the McConnell family relocated to Edwards, where Capt. McConnell was assigned to the F-86H test program.

On a sunny August day, a junior pilot took up the F-86H test aircraft for a brief flight and returned, reporting no problems. A short while later, Capt McConnell lifted off for a series of aerobatic maneuvers as part of the flight test program.

After a while, he radioed the tower and reported control difficulties. In Korea, he had practiced control techniques in event of a total hydraulic failure. Struggling to control the aircraft, he thought he could maneuver back to Edwards and its expansive Rogers Dry Lake. Unable to gain altitude, he ejected.

The pilotless aircraft continued on for about a mile and crashed in the desert. McConnell had ejected but too low for the parachute to open. He was killed instantly on impact.

His death on Aug. 25, 1954 was headline news from coast to coast. The New York Daily News headline screamed, “M’CONNELL, TOP JET ACE, KILLED.”

Within minutes, Air Force accident investigators boarded a helicopter en route to the remote crash site.

In his 32 years, he rose from nothing and survived combat in two wars to become a national hero — only to die while testing a cutting-edge jet.

I recently stopped off at Capt. McConnell‘s grave in downtown Victorville, Calif. to pay my respects, wash the black gra...
08/20/2026

I recently stopped off at Capt. McConnell‘s grave in downtown Victorville, Calif. to pay my respects, wash the black granite grave marker and leave flowers. His wife “Butch” rests just a few feet away. I send photos to his eldest daughter, Trish, who is always comforted.

It’s a quiet, peaceful location near the flag pole at the top of a hill. A good place to reflect as we approach next week’s anniversary of his tragic death in 1954.

I had a great day Friday. I did a two-hour phone interview with the eldest son of Capt. McConnell's key wingman. I’d bee...
08/08/2026

I had a great day Friday. I did a two-hour phone interview with the eldest son of Capt. McConnell's key wingman. I’d been trying to get this interview for more than six years. He had some great unpublished stories, details on others and perceptive insights that will add to our understanding of America’s greatest jet ace.

He also sent a link to an audio interview his father did that is archived in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project Collection. Oddly, I have name-searched that collection several times in the past with little success. So I searched today for this particular wingman’s name. And nothing came up, even though his oral history interview does, in fact, exist in the Library of Congress online collection. So I tried using Copilot, Perplexity, and ChatGPT to see if they could find this oral history interview with the particular wingman. Again, although the oral history is in the Library of Congress online collections, all three artificial intelligence engines failed to find it.

This is actually par for the course. I have spent countless hours doing research only to run into dead ends. But often times I find the information through other means. Military archives, especially Korean War archives, are generally in rather poor condition for the Historian, in my humble opinion. I’m not alone in this opinion.

In his book “Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea,” historian John Bruning describes the the poor condition of archives in the first paragraphs of the preface. See below.

The good news is that I have secured a great interview and a long lost oral history interview with a wingman who knew Capt. McConnell very well.

I’m researching the amazing story of Col. Albert Schinz, executive officer of the 51st FIW. On May Day, May 1, 1952, Sch...
07/31/2026

I’m researching the amazing story of Col. Albert Schinz, executive officer of the 51st FIW. On May Day, May 1, 1952, Schinz led a flight into MiG Alley, where he was hit by a 37mm canon round and forced to eject.

Entangled by his parachute, he almost drowned but made it into his inflatable raft — which was packed without paddles. He lost most of his emergency supplies and barely made it onto a small island. He lit signal fires and built an SOS sign missed by multiple passing search planes.

Days turned into weeks. He suffered setback after setback and was slowly starving. There were times when he broke down and lost all hope. But then he dug within his heart and rallied.

After 37 days, he was discovered by South Koreans and made it back to 51st fighter wing headquarters. After a phone call to his wife and children, he sat down to dinner.
And this is what he ate:
Two large shrimp salads, including the lettuce and raw cabbage filler.
One double-sized filet mignon.
One mountainous order of French fries.
Two large salads.
Six eggs.
Two pots of coffee.
Four scoops of ice cream.
Two bananas cut up on the ice cream.
An extra-thick coating of hot chocolate that completely covered the ice cream and bananas.

He went on to accumulate more than 4,000 flying hours and retired as a major general in 1971, leaving a legacy as one of the Air Force’s foremost tactical aviation leaders.
I just learned that Gen. Schinz prevented Ace and Vietnam War POW Robinson Risner from getting fired! Will dig into that further.

Never lose hope. When all seems lost and you see no way out, never, ever lose hope.

On this 250th anniversary of the Declaration, we wish a happy and meaningful Independence Day to the followers of the Ca...
07/02/2026

On this 250th anniversary of the Declaration, we wish a happy and meaningful Independence Day to the followers of the Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr. History Page.

Every generation faces the challenge and responsibility to defend Freedom and protect the blessings of Liberty. The legacy of every Korean War veteran is the 51 million South Koreans living in freedom and prosperity today.

Thank you for your interest in Capt. McConnell. For those who pray, I have a favor to ask.Please pray that God bring int...
06/21/2026

Thank you for your interest in Capt. McConnell. For those who pray, I have a favor to ask.

Please pray that God bring into my possession certain specific records created in 1953 that would be of tremendous importance in telling the complete story of Capt. McConnell.

I have hunted for years for these records. I know they once existed and am praying that they still exist and that God delivers them to me. Thank you.

One month after Capt. McConnell shot down his 16th and final MiG, 122 airmen, including 29 from elements of the 51st Fig...
06/15/2026

One month after Capt. McConnell shot down his 16th and final MiG, 122 airmen, including 29 from elements of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group, wrapped up five days of R&R in Japan.

On the afternoon of June 18, 1953, the airmen boarded a four-engine Douglas C-124 Globemaster II at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan en route back to Kimpo, Korea.

One minute after liftoff, the No. 1 engine caught fire — a problem with the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engine. The pilot shut down the engine and radioed his intention to return to Tachikawa.

But as he headed back, the Globemaster rolled to the left and began a shallow dive. It crashed and exploded, killing all 129 passengers and crew. Up to that time, it was the world’s deadliest aviation disaster and would remain so until 1960.

In researching records related to Capt. McConnell, I found this list of those killed. Remember their sacrifice.

I recently was talking with the widow of my friend, Frank Santucci, who was a crewman with the 67th Tactical Recon Wing. She said Frank had been on R&R in Japan and was scheduled to be on that faithful flight back to K-14. But a friend convinced Frank to take the next flight, thereby saving his life.

Video: "AVIATION'S - WORST CRASH 129 DEAD Camera: Zenier WARNER PATHE NEWS june 1953 tachikawa" https://share.google/62Tyq19m4vaTCLfRq

I’m happy to report that the Under Secretary of Air Force Matthew Lohmeier is now the proud owner of a Capt. Joseph McCo...
06/13/2026

I’m happy to report that the Under Secretary of Air Force Matthew Lohmeier is now the proud owner of a Capt. Joseph McConnell, Jr. challenge coin.

A former F-15 Eagle pilot, Under Secretary Lohmeier was familiar with Capt. McConnell before receiving the challenge coin during a meeting at Nellis AFB with my friend Tom McGrath.

05/21/2026

I got over 250 reactions on my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉

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