Sam Roth Connelly Jr. was the son of Sam Roth and Irene Connelly Sr. Brother of Aviation Cadet Glenn Whiteside Connelly and Irene Louise Connelly.
Died 13 November 1943
Second Lieutenant
389th Bomber Group, 565th Bomber Squadron, Heavy
Aircraft B-24D with serial number 42-72868 departed from Hethel, England and was on an operational mission to Bremen, Germany.
On 13 November 1943 at approximately 1120 the undersigned saw plane 42-72868 crash into plane 42-72875. Plane 42-72875 passed over from the left of our plane and went to the right and fell into position 300 to 400 yards off our right wing. Another B-24D, 42-72868 came over and smashed into plane 42-72875. The no. 4 engine of plane 42-72868 hit behind the No. 1 engine of plane 42-72875. Plane 42-72868 immediately broke up and the other plane went into an almost vertical dive. We followed the plane from our position and saw it go down for 2000 to 3000 feet.
–Statement from Richard C. Coleman, 1st Lt, Air Corps
Crew members
Pilot, 2nd Lt Sam R. Connelly, Jr.
Co-Pilo,t 2nd Lt Willis L. Webb
Navigator, 2nd Lt Robert E. Tennant
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Donald P. Collins
Radio Operator, T/Sgt William R. Collier
Top Turret Gunner, T/Sgt John A. Stachowiak
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Joseph H. Longdo
Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Robert J. Sadler
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt Emanuel A. Litman
2nd Lt Connelly is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri in the same grave with
S/Sgt Richard E. Bartlett, Sgt Benjamin Caplan, 2nd Lt Donald P. Collins, 1st Lt Ralph W. Cummings, S/Sgt Joseph R. Doyle, T/Sgt Frederick H. Homnick, S/Sgt, William H. Major, 2nd Lt Robert F. Schroeder
1st Lt Richard G. Sedivec, 2nd Lt Robert E. Tennant, 2nd Lt Robert Timmer and 2nd Lt Willie L. Webb
The Chattanooga Times, January 9, 1944
Lt. Sam R. Connelly Jr., who previously was reported missing in action, was killed in action Nov. 13 in a bombing raid in a European theater. The official War Department telegram to Mrs. Connelly read: “Report received from the German Government through the International Red Cross states your husband, Second Lt. Sam R. Connelly Jr., who was previously reported missing in action, was killed in action Nov. 13 in the European area. The Secretary of War extends his deep sympathy. Letter follows.” Lt. Connelly’s brother, A/C Glenn W. Connelly, youngest son of the family, was killed in an airplane accident at Turner Field, Albany, Ga., last April. He also was a Baylor graduate and attended the university of Virginia. The airmen were only sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sam R. Connelly of Lookout Mountain, who are reported on a Florida visit at present.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 11 January 1918
- Date of death: 13 November 1943
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Lookout Mountain
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 389th Bomber Group, 565th Bomber Squadron, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis County, MO
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Sam R. Connelly Jr.
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