BRIGADIER GENERAL SAMUEL M. CONNELL Samuel M. Connell was born in Warrenton, N.C., on July 10, 1896. He served as a sergeant in the North Carolina National Guard during the border crisis from June 19, 1916, to March 27, 1917. He enlisted as a flying cadet, Aviation Section, Signal Corps Reserve, on July 2, 1917, and on Feb. 16, 1918, he was appointed a second lieutenant, Signal Reserve. He was called to active duty on that same date, and was promoted to first lieutenant (temporary) on Oct. 31, 1918. On July 1, 1920, he was commissioned in the Regular Army, Air Service, as a second lieutenant. His border patrol duty was at Fort Bliss, Texas. After the outbreak of war, he was assigned to the School of Military Aeronautics at Atlanta, Ga., and took his flying training at Houston, Texas. He then was ordered to France Field, Panama Canal Zone, with the 7th Aero Squadron, flying on related duties. He transferred to Mitchel Field, N.Y., with the 5th Observation Squadron in April 1922. During this tour he completed a 1,500 mile flight over Northern New York and Vermont, a hazardous cross-country feat at that time. He became Commanding Officer of the 5th Observation Squadron later. He moved to Brooks Field, Texas, in July 1926, and there became Commanding Officer of the 46th School Squadron. He served at Chanute Field, Ill., as Engineering Officer and related duties from March 1931 to March 1934, when he became an Air Mail Pilot in the Army Air Corps Operations Division. Returning to Chanute Field, he became Engineering Officer in May 1934. He took special instruction in advanced air navigation and instrument flying, Rockwell Field, Calif., from January to August 1935, when he was assigned to the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Ala. After graduation in June 1936, he went to Mitchel Field, N.Y., in command of the 99th Bomber Squadron. He was ordered to the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in September 1939, and graduated in September 1940. He then proceeded to France Field, Panama Canal Zone, in command of the 6th Bombardment Group. He transferred to Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, as Department Air Plans and Operations Officer in March 1941, and served there until he returned to the United States where he became Commanding General, IV Bomber Command, San Francisco, Calif., in March 1942. In April 1944, he was made Deputy Commander of the Fourth Air Force at San Francisco, and in October 1944 was given an undisclosed assignment. EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION First Lieutenant July 1, 1920 Captain March 1, 1931 Major July 1, 1939 Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 4, 1941 Colonel (temporary) Jan. 5, 1942 Brigadier General (temporary) Feb. 28, 1942 (Current as of July 12, 1945)