Thomas F. Connolly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas F. Connolly
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Thomas F. Connolly in 1965
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| Born | October 24, 1909 St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Died | May 24, 1996 (aged 86) Holland, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
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| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
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| Years of service | 1933-1971 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank |  Vice Admiral |
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| Commands held | VPB-13 USS Hornet (CV-12) Carrier Division Seven Naval Air Forces Pacific |
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| Battles/wars | World War II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards | Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (3) |
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| Spouse(s) | Margaret Hagy Connolly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Thomas F. Connolly Jr. Susan Connolly Moya |
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Vice Admiral Thomas Francis Connolly Jr. (October 24, 1909 – May 24, 1996) was a high-ranking admiral in the United States Navy. He was also a skilled pilot, a talented gymnast, and an Olympic medalist.
Connolly served in the Navy for 38 years. During his long career, he fought in World War II. He also helped create a special school for test pilots. He commanded two large aircraft carriers and became a top leader for naval air forces. He retired in 1971.
Connolly played a very important part in creating the Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. This famous plane was even named partly in his honor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Connolly was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He spent most of his childhood growing up in Los Angeles, California. He later attended the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1929, he received a special invitation to join the United States Naval Academy.
Olympic Medalist
Connolly was a talented athlete. He competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. There, he won a bronze medal in the sport of rope climbing. This was the fourth and last time that rope climbing was an event in the Olympic Games. Only five athletes competed in this event.
Connolly graduated from the Naval Academy in 1933. He was one of the top students in his class. After graduating, he went to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. He soon earned his naval aviator wings, becoming a Navy pilot.
In 1939, he studied aeronautical engineering at the Naval Academy. He earned a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1942.
World War II Service
In March 1943, Connolly took command of Patrol Squadron 13. His squadron flew large Consolidated PB2Y Coronado aircraft. He led this group until September 1944. During his time in command, his unit fought in important battles. They saw action at the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. They also bombed Wake Island. For his bravery and leadership, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
Developing the Test Pilot School
In 1944, Connolly worked at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He was an Assistant Director of Flight Test. He became one of the first 50 US Navy pilots to fly a jet plane. He flew a YP-59A jet on February 24, 1945.
While at Patuxent, Connolly noticed a problem. Pilots and engineers used different technical words. This made it hard for them to work together. He suggested starting a school to train them to speak the same "language." This school began in 1945. It later grew into the important United States Naval Test Pilot School.
In 1948, Connolly became the second commander of this Test Pilot School. He also helped write a textbook called "Airplane Aerodynamics." This book became a standard for many universities. While leading the school, he also learned to fly helicopters. He stayed at the school until April 1951.
Commanding Aircraft Carriers
On August 21, 1957, Connolly took command of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. During his time as commander, the Hornet sailed to the Western Pacific. This area was part of the United States Seventh Fleet. He commanded the ship until August 25, 1958.
After this, he worked on missile programs. He also led a group called the "Connolly Committee." This group's work helped create the Navy Navigation Satellite System. This was the world's first system of its kind. Later, Connolly became Commander of Carrier Division Seven.
From 1964 to 1965, he was an Assistant Chief of Naval Operations. He worked on how the Navy's fleet operated and prepared for missions. For this important work, he received the Legion of Merit.
On October 30, 1965, he became Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific. This was a very important role. He took command in a ceremony held on the carrier USS Ranger. On November 1, 1966, he was promoted again. He became the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare. He held this high position until he retired on August 31, 1971.
Role in F-14 Tomcat Development
While he was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, the Navy was working on a new jet. This jet was meant to replace the F4 Phantom II. The Navy's first idea was the General Dynamics–Grumman F-111B.
However, as the Vietnam War continued, the Navy needed a different kind of plane. They needed a jet that was better at air combat. The F-111B was not designed for this. Connolly then set out new requirements for a new naval fighter jet.
In 1968, Connolly spoke to the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. He was asked what would make the F-111B work for the Navy. He famously replied, "There isn't enough power in all Christendom to make that airplane what we want!" His strong words helped lead to the F-111B project being canceled in May 1968. After this, Connolly became the main leader for the F-14 project. His work was key to the F-14 Tomcat becoming a reality.
Later Life
After retiring from the Navy, Connolly lived in Virginia. In the early 1990s, he moved to Holland, Michigan. He worked as a consultant, giving advice on national defense.
Thomas Connolly passed away on May 24, 1996, in Holland, Michigan. He was 86 years old. His wife, Margaret, passed away in 2010. They had been married for 58 years.
Honors and Recognition
- In 1969, Connolly was named "Tailhooker Of The Year" by the Tailhook Association.
- In 1998, he was honored by being inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor.
- In 1999, he was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame.
See also
- Revolt of the Admirals, another time Navy officers spoke out to Congress.
