Edward J Hennessy
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Reported to the ETO on 17 Jul 1942. Completed 25 missions on 29 May 1943 as a Flight Commander. Came over as a copilot, but became 1st pilot in Nov. 1942. He flew the first Germany mission to Wilhelmshaven on 27 January 1943. He was considered the first pilot to fly 25 assigned missions without aborting any. His plane name was 'Little Audrey'. Hennessy flew the first 306th Bombing mission, 09 October 1942, as a copilot and then four more until he took over his own crew in January of 1943. He was one of only 21. 6% of the original 306th airmen to survive 25 missions. When he returned to the USA in September 1943 - probably the first 8th AF pilot to return- there was big coverage in the press and he was 'swept' into war bond rallies etc.
DFC, AM 3OLC,
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Chicago, Illinois | 11 September 1919 |
Revisions
306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition, First Over Germany pg. 71, 118, & 138, Russell Strong Index Cards, 306th BGA Collection, / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…