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Personal info

Full name
CONNALLY, James Perry Jr "JP"
Date of birth
24 September 1924
Age
18
Place of birth
Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas
Hometown
Houston County, Texas

Military service

Service number
18115873
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
423rd Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
28 July 1943
Place of death
North of Oldenburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 9 3

Immediate family

Members
James P. Connally (father)
Jane N. (Ambrose) Connally (mother)
Jack R. Connally (brother)
Willis M. Connally (half brother)
Vesta L. Connally (half sister)
Andrew M. Connally (half brother)
Myrtis C. Connally (half sister)
Otha D. McMullen (half brother)
John O. Mc Mullen (half brother)
Oda M. McMullen (half sister)
Sam McMullen (half brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29779
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Bab's Best
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 124

More information

James Connally attended Ratcliff High Schooll and volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Houston, Texas on 28 May 1942. Most likely he lied about his age since he was only 16 at the time.

Before the group left the target, they were attacked by German fighter aircraft over Oldenburg, Germany. During the attack, two engines of this aircraft were shot out, one catching on fire. The tail section was shot up badly and the controls were shot out. Already during the attack, the pilot gave the order to bail out. Immediately the airplane went into a flat spin.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Peter Schouteten