Joseph C. McConnell

Joseph C. McConnell
McConnell with his F-86, Beauteous Butch II, following his last mission in Korea
Born	(1922-01-30)30 January 1922 Dover, New Hampshire
Died	25 August 1954(1954-08-25) (aged 32) Edwards Air Force Base, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1942-1954
Rank	Captain
Unit	39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Fifth Air Force
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (4)

Joseph Christopher McConnell, Jr. (30 January 1922 – 25 August 1954) was a United States Air Force fighter pilot who was the top American flying ace during the Korean War. A native of Dover, New Hampshire, Captain McConnell was credited with shooting down 16 MiG-15s while flying North American F-86 Sabres. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in aerial combat. McConnell was the first American triple jet-on-jet fighter ace and is still the top-scoring American jet ace.

McConnell enlisted in the United States Army on October 15, 1940 and served in the Medical Corps.

McConnell entered the U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program in 1943 during World War II. His dream of becoming a pilot was dashed when, instead of being sent to pilot training, he was assigned to navigator training. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his navigator wings on September 18, 1944. He next completed Consolidated B-24 Liberator training and joined the 448th Bomber Group in England in January 1945. He flew 60 combat missions in Europe as a B-24 Liberator navigator. 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, receiving his USAF pilot wings on February 25, 1948 at Williams AFB in Arizona. He then served in various fighter squadrons in the U.S.