Edward J Hennessy

Military
Second Lieutenant Edward J. Hennessy Jr., of the 303rd Bomb Group, plays darts. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238785.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Dozens of Americans serving in Britain are learning the traditional British game of darts. Among them is Second Lieutenant Edward J. Hennessy, Jr., of the U.S. Air Corps, who before enlisting lived with his parents at 6848 Constance Avenue, Chicago. H media-378908.jpg FRE 1040 Second Lieutenant Edward J. Hennessy Jr., of the 303rd Bomb Group, plays darts. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238785.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Dozens of Americans serving in Britain are learning the traditional British game of darts. Among them is Second Lieutenant Edward J. Hennessy, Jr., of the U.S. Air Corps, who before enlisting lived with his parents at 6848 Constance Avenue, Chicago. He was educated at Notre Dame and at the age of 25 is engaged to Virginia Robinson of 1526 Washington Street, Evanston, Ill. O.P.S. Lt. Hennessy pulls a dart out of a board.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1040 - Second Lieutenant Edward J. Hennessy Jr., of the 303rd Bomb Group, plays darts. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’...

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

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, Illinois 11 September 1919

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

306th Echoes April 2001

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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…

Edward J Hennessy: Gallery (1 items)