Carl William Connell was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 16, 1890. He enlisted as a sergeant in the Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps on December 4, 1916, and was appointed a first lieutenant in the Aviation Section of the Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, on June 4, 1917. He was called to active duty on July 3, 1917, and was promoted to captain (temporary), Signal Corps, on October 23, 1917. On July 1, 1920, he was commissioned in the Regular Army, Air Service, as a first lieutenant.
SERVICE
Enlisting in the Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1916, he received flight training at the Curtiss School, Newport News, Virginia, which he completed in 1917 with his Reserve Military Aviator rating. He was assigned to Kelly Field, Texas in July 1917, where he initially served as a Supply Officer in the 4th Aero Squadron followed by brief periods of command of the 21st and 43rd Aero Squadrons. He then moved to the Recruit Camp at Kelly Field for two months to assist Captain John P. Edgerly in organizing and equipping new recruits and aero squadrons. Thereafter, he variously served as a Transportation, Supply, Maintenance, Sanitary, Police, and Construction Officer in the 1st and 2nd Training Brigades and at the U.S. Aviation Schools at Kelly Field.
In February 1919, he moved to Washington, D.C. for duty in the Supply Section, Salvage Branch, of the Division of Military Aeronautics of the Air Service. During the year he served on temporary duty to salvage buildings and fixtures at the closed U.S. Army Balloon Schools at Florence Field, Fort Omaha, Nebraska and Camp John Wise, Texas. In August 1919, he returned to Washington, D.C. for further duties in the Material Disposal and Salvage Division of the Office of the Director of the Air Service, including serving as Chief of Machine Tools and Airplanes and Engines.
He was next assigned as a student to the Air Service Engineering School, McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, in November 1920, and following his graduation in October 1921, became the Engineering Division Representative at the Lowe, Willard & Fowler Engineering Company, College Point, Long Island, New York. In June 1922, he next served as Inspector at the plant of the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company, Keyport, New Jersey. In January 1924, he assumed duties as the Government Representative in charge of Inspection on Procurement and Engineering Purchase Orders and Contracts at the plant of the Boeing Airplane Corporation, Seattle, Washington.
In July 1925, he went to France Field, Panama Canal Zone, where he served as Commanding Officer of the 63rd Service Squadron. Additionally, he variously served as Chief Engineer Officer and as an Aircraft Accident Investigating Officer, among other duties. In May 1927, he relinquished command of the 63rd Service Squadron and was appointed Commanding Officer of the 25th Bomb Squadron at France Field. Returning to the United States in July 1928, he was assigned as a student at the Air Corps Tactical School, Langley Field, Virginia, in August 1928. Upon graduation in June 1929, and following two months of leave, he enrolled as a student in August 1929, at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After graduating in June 1931, he was appointed Air Officer of the Sixth Corps Area, Chicago, Illinois. During this period, he assisted in the success of the Decennial Air Cruise, a trans-Atlantic formation flight of 25 Italian seaplanes from Italy to the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago in 1933. He was later decorated with the Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy for his services.
In December 1933, he moved to Washington, D.C. for duty in the Supply Division of the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. He was assigned as a student officer to the Army War College, Washington, D.C., in September 1936. He graduated in June 1937, and two months later was appointed Commanding Officer of the 9th Bombardment Group, Mitchel Field, New York.
In May 1940, he was named Commanding Officer of Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. He returned to the United States in April 1941 and became Commanding Officer of Bangor Army Air Field, Maine. He relinquished command in January 1942 for a brief temporary duty assignment in Washington, D.C. In February 1942, he went overseas for duty in Australia as Chief of Supply and Maintenance, U.S. Army Air Services, supporting the Fifth Air Force and the Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area. In October 1942, he was named Commanding General of the V Air Force Service Command in the Southwest Pacific Area. In August 1943, he took command of the U.S. Army Services of Supply forces in New Guinea tasked with building airfields and roads and developing port facilities supporting U.S. and Australian operations against the enemy strongholds at Lae and Finschhafen. He returned to the United States in February 1944, and was hospitalized for malaria at Coral Gables, Florida. In May 1944, following his medical convalescence, he was appointed Commanding General of Amarillo Army Air Field, Texas.
He died on January 7, 1946, at Amarillo, Texas, of a gunshot wound.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Sergeant, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, December 4, 1916, to June 28, 1917; First Lieutenant, Aviation Section Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, June 4, 1917; accepted June 20, 1917; Captain, Signal Corps (temporary), October 23, 1917; accepted November 24, 1917; vacated September 15, 1920; First Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; accepted September 15, 1920; Captain, July 1, 1920; Major, June 1, 1935; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), August 26, 1936, to July 13, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, July 13, 1940; Colonel (temporary), October 16, 1940; Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Brigadier General, A.U.S., June 15, 1942; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 30, 1945; Colonel, A.U.S., February 27, 1935.
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in April 1944, with the following citation:
“Brigadier General Carl W. Connell, O-6005, United States Army. For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service to the government in positions of great responsibility in the Southwest Pacific area. As commander of the Fifth Air Force Service Command in the Southwest Pacific area from 19 October 1942 to 29 August 1943 General Connell established a highly efficient system of supply and maintenance for the Fifth Air Force. With great energy and foresight he set up aircraft depots and repair centers, improvised equipment and substituted materials in the rearming of aircraft and conceived and constructed useful special equipment. He enlisted the cordial cooperation of Australian civilian and military authorities, and so skillfully organized repair and maintenance facilities that he contributed in great measure to the notable aerial victories achieved during this critical period. From 30 August 1943 to 11 February 1944, he commanded with marked success U.S. Army service elements of a task force whose mission was to carry out the logistical support of ground and air operations against Lae and Finschhafen. Although handicapped by frequent enemy aerial attacks he rapidly constructed extensive air fields, important roads and major port facilities, and instituted effective sanitary measures in a disease infected sector. His efficiency, leadership and untiring effort on these difficult assignments enabled General Connell to make a conspicuous contribution to the success of operations.”
References:
Official Army Register, Vol. I, 1 January 1946, p. 138; War Department General Orders No. 34, Washington, D.C., 25 April 1944, Section III-Distinguished Service Medal Award to Brigadier General Carl W. Connell; Article, “Italy Decorates 99 Aiding Balbo—Long List of American Honored by Il Duce,” The Boston Daily Globe, Boston, MA, August 30, 1934, Thursday, p. 9; Ancell, R. Manning, with Christine M. Miller. The Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals and Flag Officers: The U.S. Armed Forces. Greenwood Press, 1996, pp. 377-378; Carl W. Connell Papers, Call Nos. 708.161-1, 708.1622-1708.1623-1, 733.161-1, 733.289-1, IRIS Nos. 0253213-0253215, 0258993-0258993, 0259004, housed at the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.