Jet Ace of the Korean War: Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr.: “triple ace” with 15 kills.

Leading Jet Ace: Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr.

The leading jet ace of the Korean War was Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr., who scored his first victory on Jan. 14, 1953. In a little more than a month, he gained his fifth MiG-15 victory, thereby becoming an ace. USAF

On the day McConnell shot down his eighth MiG, his F-86 was hit by enemy aircraft fire, and he was forced to bail out over enemy-controlled waters of the Yellow Sea west of Korea. After only two minutes in the freezing water, a helicopter rescued him. The following day he was back in combat and shot down his ninth MiG. By the end of April 1953, he had scored his 10th victory to become a “double ace.”

He scored his last victories on May 18, 1953. That morning McConnell shot down two MiGs in a furious air battle and became a “triple ace” with 15 kills. On another mission that afternoon, he shot down his sixteenth and final MiG-15.

On Aug. 25, 1954, McConnell crashed to his death while testing a F-86H at Edwards AFB, Calif.

Personal Account from Capt. McConnell, 31 January 1953

“I encountered 4 MiG 15’s at 46,000′ I turned left into them, then reversed my turn on the first 2. I then broke right into the second 2 and again reversed my turn and lined up on the #2 MiG of the 1st element. I hit the MiG it rolled over and dived for the ground. I followed firing occasionally. Finally the MiG crashed. 

In the process of chasing the 1st MiG his leader got on my tail. After the #2 MiG crashed. I pulled into a very high “G” turn. He slid to the outside and I reversed rolling over the top. I completed the roll ending at six o’clock on the outside of the turn. The MiG continued turning and I again pulled very high “G” and pulled lead on the MiG and again started firing hitting the engine, he had an engine explosion. The MiG rolled out and I started firing from passes descending and ascending up and down through his smoke and jet wash. 

At one time while coming up through the MiG jet wash and smoke and firing the MiG pulled up. When I came out of the smoke I was about to collide with the MiG. I pulled up over the tail and half rolled to keep the MiG in sight. The MiG pilot looked up at me and pulled up into me as though to ram me. I pushed forward violently to avoid hitting him and finally rolled out at 6 o’clock again. The MiG pulled up and opened speed brakes as though to bail out. I had to leave because of fuel shortage; in fact, I glided the last 90 miles. The MiG was confirmed by another flight that observed the crash.” 

Joseph McConnell II 
Capt., USAF

“I am Harold Chitwood, First Lieutenant, USAF, and at the time Mac was shot down I was stationed at K-13 Korea. I was assigned to the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing. We were in the same squadron; as a matter of fact we went to Korea on the plane. 

I happened to be flying the ‘number 3’ position in Captain McConnell’s flight the day he was shot down. Mac was firing at a MiG after my element had taken a bounce. I then heard his wingman tell him to break, there was a MiG at six o’clock. Mac checked his tail but didn’t see the MiG as it was low at his six o’clock. When the MiG closed — he fired, hitting Mac. Mac immediately broke and the MiG slid past, Mac reversed and fired on the MiG shooting it down. 

When Mac’s wingman said Mac was hit I broke off my attack, turned and immediately saw Mac’s smoke. He had some 50-70% power remaining, no radio, but control of his aircraft, and headed south to the water. A flight of MiGs followed us south but did not attack. Although Mac’s plane was emitting heavy smoke, there was no visible fire. 

I called air-sea rescue from Chodo for help. We spotted a chopper heading north which turned around and followed until Mac bailed out. He was in the water only one – two minutes and back to K-13 before the day was over. 

I have looked in my flight log for more accurate information such as other members of the flight, but it is not recorded. Both Mac’s and my wingman had to leave early because they were low on fuel. All three of us landed at K-14 to refuel before returning to K-13.” 

Yours truly, 

Harold Chitwood