Name: Floyd E McConnel
First Name(s): Floyd E
Last Name: McConnel
Place of birth: Michigan, Wexford Cnty, Cadillac
Rank: T/Sgt Crew Chief
ASN: 36408511
Company: 95th T Car Sqdrn
Unit: 440th Troop Carrier Grp 9th USAAF
Reported as: MIA ► KIA
Date of incident: 27-12-1944
Place of incident: Sibret area
His story: On December 27, 1944, the Smith crew took off with Douglas SKYTRAIN C-47A-75-DL, #42-100904 nickname “Betts” from the airstrip at Châteaudun, France.
The formation ran into a barrage of ligth FLAK in the vicinity of Bastogne, Belgium. While flying in formation in an element of 8 airplanes and gliders at about 2,500 feet, 1 Lt Harvey L Rideout saw that the airplane of Capt Smith burst into flame and suddenly nose downward. The glider which was town immediately cut loose. Lt Rideout did not saw the airplane crash, but believed it did when it was close to the ground.
Capt Wilton C Smith is recorded KIA on December 27, 1944 in the vicinity of Sibret, Belgium.
Co-Pilot 2 Lt Arthur A Calderwood also didn’t manage to bail out of the plane together with Radio Operator S/Sgt Anthony T Piraino and Crew Chief T/Sgt Floyd E McConnel.
Navigator 1 Lt Michael E Whitfield was the only crewmember who managed to bail out of the airplane and was taken POW.
MACR: 11318
Operation: REPULSE
Destination: Bastogne, Belgium
Mission: Glider Tow
Unit history of 440th Troop Carrier Group
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