John P. McConnell (general)

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For other people named John McConnell, see John McConnell (disambiguation).
John P. McConnell
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal

Secretary of the Air Force
for managing the vast human and materiel resources of the world's most powerful aerospace force.

Early life and education

John Paul McConnell was the son of Dr. Samuel Paul McConnell, a medical doctor, and Desseau M. (Dorsey) McConnell.

Kelly Fields, Texas, he received his pilot wings in 1933.[5]

Military career

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal by President Richard Nixon at the White House
on July 17, 1969.

A fighter pilot during his early years in the then-

Army Air Forces, McConnell gained broad experience through a variety of operational and administrative assignments, including duty as assistant executive in the Office of the Chief of Air Forces in Washington. Subsequently, he served in key Air Force positions in both Asia and Europe.[1]

In 1943 McConnell became chief of staff of the China-Burma-India Air Force Training Command at

Nanking Headquarters Command.[1]

McConnell returned to Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in 1947 to become chief of the Reserve and National Guard Division and, the next year, was appointed chief of the Air Force's Civilian Components Group. Assigned to England in 1950, he served as deputy commander and later, commander of the Third Air Force. He then took command of the 7th Air Division of the Strategic Air Command, commanding the Third Air Force at the same time.[1]

Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. McConnell greeted by Commanders of The Strategic Air Command General Joseph J. Nazzaro and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Bruce K. Holloway at Strategic Air Command's Headquarters in Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, August 1, 1968.

This was followed by a four-year tour as director of Plans at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. In 1957 he was named commander of Second Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and four years later returned to Strategic Air Command to become vice commander in chief.[1]

In 1962 McConnell was assigned to Europe as deputy commander in chief of the

Curtis E. LeMay. His appointment as chief of staff was extended to July 1969.[1]

McConnell's decorations included the

Legion of Honor – Degree of Commandeur (France).[1]

In June 1965, McConnell was presented an

honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. He also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in June 1966.[7][2]

McConnell retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1969, and died November 21, 1986, in Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland.[3] A funeral service was held on November 25 in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., with burial in the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The public library in his hometown of

memorabilia from his years of service to the US Air Force, including service medals, decorations and commendations as of 2016.[8]

Effective dates of promotion

Source:[7]

Insignia Rank Date
General October 1, 1962
Lieutenant general June 30, 1959
Major general December 22, 1950
Brigadier general August 24, 1944
Colonel December 22, 1942
Lieutenant colonel January 23, 1942
Major July 15, 1941
Captain September 9, 1940
First lieutenant
 April 20, 1935
Second lieutenant June 10, 1932


Postscript

McConnell's role as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, as well as that of the other members of the

Air War College, Army War College, Naval War College and National War College
).

The Arkansas Aviation Historical Society inducted McConnell into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985.

McConnell's son, Dorsey W. M. McConnell, is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. Another son, Bruce W. McConnell, is CEO and President at the EastWest Institute.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "GENERAL JOHN PAUL MCCONNELL". USAF. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "John Paul McConnell (1908–1986)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Saxon, Wolfgang (November 24, 1986). "J.P. McCONNELL, EX-AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF, DIES". New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  4. ^ "Congressional Record" (PDF). June 2, 1932. pp. 11829–30. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Biography of John P. McConnell". Air Force Historical Research Agency. May 28, 1951. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Raymonds, Jack (May 2, 1964). "PRESIDENT NAMES VICE CHIEF FOR AIR; J.P. McConnell Also Seen as Likely Successor to LeMay". New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Biography of General John P. McConnell". Air Force Historical Research Agency. September 15, 1968. pp. 15–21. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier Page 22". mydigitalpublication.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  9. ISBN 0-06-092908-1

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from GENERAL JOHN PAUL MCCONNELL Biography. United States Air Force. Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Military offices
Preceded by
Gen.
Curtis E. LeMay
 Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
1965–1969 		Succeeded by
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