Richard Ellis Conner III
MilitaryRussia evader
2 DFC's
78th FG 82nd FS . Major Richard E Conner, of Vicksburg, Miss., was hit on 21st March while strafing an airfield, during which he destroyed three jet planes. He was reported safe in Russia.
“Major R E Conner, on the 21st of the month, added to his brilliant record of 8 e/a destroyed by knocking off 3 more a/c on an airdrome deep in Germany. He was hit by flak over the drome and, with his cockpit full of smoke, made a bee-line for Russia, just making the lines and winding up in Poltava, Russia. We presume he and Lt Paul Stearns [MIA 17th March] are enjoying their vodka together.”
In May 1945 he was appointed Commanding Officer of 82nd Fighter Squadron.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM, Croix de Guerre, WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medal.
Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korean conflict. Employed as an executive with Merrill Lynch subsequently retiring from that post.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Warren County, MS, USA | 22 January 1917 | Son of Richard Ellis Jr and Carolyne Routh Mary Louise [Williams] Conner. |
|
Enlisted |
Jackson, MS, USA | 10 February 1941 | |
|
Based |
Duxford | 6 June 1944 - 19 March 1945 | Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other End Tour Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 2 December 1944 | Ended Tour Duty (ETD) 1. |
|
Other End Tour Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 12 March 1945 | Ended Tour Duty (ETD) 2. |
|
Based |
Duxford | 19 March 1945 | Assigned to 84FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Evaded Capture |
Poltava, Poltavs'ka oblast, Ukraine, 36000 | 21 March 1945 | Hit by flak strafing an aerodrome in Germany in P-51D 44-72233 diverted to Russia, evading capture (EVD). 21-Mar-45. |
|
Other Promotion |
Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QR, UK | 4 June 1945 | Promoted to Lt Colonel. |
|
Died |
Tuscaloosa County, AL, USA | 14 March 1995 | |
|
Buried |
2 Cemetery Rd, Natchez, MS 39120, USA | 18 March 1995 | Natchez City Cemetery Natchez, Adams County, MS |
| Vicksburg, MS, USA | |||
|
Other Promotion |
Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QR, UK | Promoted to Captain. | |
|
Other Promotion |
Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QR, UK | Promoted to Major. |
Revisions
Combined two entries for Richard E Conner. This entry now includes unit associations from the following source:
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
Intelligence Department (0543), SO 85, Hq, AAF Sta F-357 12 May 1945 (1146),
78th Fighter Group History (0479) March 1945
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / EAGLES OF DUXFORD, The 78th Fighter Group in WW2 by Fry, p132