World War II Honoree

Connie N. Samela

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

White Plains, New York

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT PRATT ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 497TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 870TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. DURING THE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 13-14 APRIL 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE CENTRAL FIRE CONTROL BARBER CHAIR STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, NICKNAMED 'WHEEL N’ DEAL' (SERIAL #42-24604) TAIL CODE: A-SQUARE-24. IT WAS ONE OF 348 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING OPERATION TO BOMBARD THE JAPANESE ARMY ORDNANCE DEPOT AT TOKYO, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS MEAGER AND JAPANESE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE. HE WAS KILLED WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED WITHIN THE IKEBUKURO DISTRICT OF TOKYO.