JOHN DAVID McCONNELL
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Born: Enlisted: Date: Place: Tour: Rank: Discharge: |
Windsor, Ontario The Royal Canadian Air Force September 12, 1941 Windsor, Ontario Canada, England and Germany Flight Sergeant 434 Squadron WO Warrant Officer 1945 |
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The Windsor Star, September 12, 1943
Three Windsor youths and seven Americans form part of a draft of new recruits for the Royal Canadian Air Force who left yesterday after enlisting at the Windsor Recruiting Office. Shown above, left to right, front row are Walter Staples, Memphis; Odre Speyrer, Port Arthur, Texas; Angelo Iannicello, Windsor, and Mike Karvasales, Ohio. Back row: James Ruckman, Cleveland; Donald Meloche, Windsor; William Richards, Dallas; John McConnell, Windsor; James Pettyjohn, Arkansas and Richard Milner, Mississauga.
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John David McConnell
Receiving his wings
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Air Graph from relative telling that John was missing.
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Official letter from the Commander of 434 Squadron
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JOHN DAVID MCCONNELL WORLD WAR II BIO
John David McConnell at the age of 19 volunteered for service with the RCAF in September 1941 to serve his country in the fight against Germany in World War II.
John began his training at the airforce base in Fingal, Ontario, just outside of London. He received his wings and was posted in England to Squadron 419. He was posted in England as a tail gunner in a Handley Page Halifax, one of the new generation of bomber aircraft.
In July 1943 he was transferred to Squadron 434 nicknamed the “Bluenose” Squadron. He was promoted to Flight/Sergeant. Squadron 434 stationed in Yorkshire England flew Halifax and Canadian made Lancasters on strategic bombing operations over Germany. In October and November 1943 he was involved in many bombing raids.
On December 20th John’s bomber was shot down on a raid over Germany. He survived the crash and was able to reach a small town where he hid under a bridge. Soon after he heard a Voice in the night saying “I am a Friend. I will help you”. The man asked him where he was from and when John mentioned Windsor in Canada, the man said he was familiar with Detroit. After a short conversation, John trusted the man and came out from under the bridge. The man took him to a house and they went upstairs to a small room. The man said “You must be hungry, I will get you something to eat.” He came back later with food. While John was eating he heard heavy steps of army boots on the stairs. The door flung open and German soldiers fully armed appeared. This is how he was captured and became a prisoner of war at the age of 21.
Back home on December 23, we received a letter from a relative in England that John had been posted as missing on a December 20th raid over Germany.
It was not until January 11th that an official letter was received from the Commanding Officer of 434 Squadron. On February 22nd a confirmation letter from Ottawa stated that Warrant Officer John McConnell was safe in Germany, being held as a prisoner of war.
As the allies were gaining ground in Europe the prisoners of war were gathered together and were marched further into the heart of Germany. In 1945 after the War was over John returned home safely.
submitted by R.J. (Jack) McConnell
John with the Halifax Bomber crew
