Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, October 29, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
Test pilot Joseph C. McConnell:

The story behind F-86 Sabre “Beauteous Butch”

by Bob Alvis lot; he was one of the all-time greats. He
special to Aerotech News was the only Triple Ace to come out of
the Korean War and the only Triple Ace
Looking back from our vantage of the jet age, as all his victories were
point here in 2021, we see the dynam- against jet aircraft. This is an amazing
ics of both fighter pilots and test pilots statistic that was achieved after a year
changing, as many aspects of technol- of flying combat in Korea where he
ogy have changed the way new genera- had not shot down one enemy aircraft,
tions view the pilots of today. Sure, we followed by a period when he scored
admire and celebrate those individuals all of his victories during a four-month
who strap into the aircraft that spark span from Jan. 14 to May 18, 1953.
our imaginations, and we marvel at the To say he was a driven man would be
skills they bring to their craft, but some- an understatement, as his desire to mix
thing is changing — or, should I say, it up was legendary. After one mis-
has changed. sion when his F-86 had been mortally
Over my life I have attended many wounded, he still managed to maneuver
programs, air shows, reunions and mu- Courtesy photograph it and gain a victory by shooting down
seums. I’ve been a member of many Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr. the MiG that had basically shot him
groups of combat veterans who had down. As he slowly lost control of his
their experiences test flying or flying Sabre, he ejected over the Yellow Sea
in combat, and seemed to always want it had some historical lineage that was and was later picked up by helicopters
to hold on to the glory years of service connected to the base or the local com- and returned to his base — where the
that defined their lives. Needless to say, munity. I never really researched it until very next day he was back at it mixing Courtesy photograph
that society also celebrated in a differ- years later when I had a chance encoun- it up with the bad guys. On one mission The gate guard that has called George AFB home and now does its duty at
ent manner how we viewed the pilots of ter with that same aircraft, when it was he shot down three MiGs in one day. Apple Valley Airport.
those eras — fans were never in short moved to the Apple Valley Airport. Totaling up 16 victories, there came
supply when one of those old legends Now I was curious, as it must surely a call that said it was time for the hot himself, the Far East Air Forces, and Korean War legend, was named after
made a public appearance. have a local connection. When I dug pilot to come home before the odds the United States Air Force.” McConnell’s wife, whose nick name
What got me thinking about this in deep, I was stunned to see the story caught up to him. He came home and So we now see that the captain was was Butch. For many years it stood
change came about via an old ‘gate unfold that ended up at Edwards AFB was whisked off to Washington where a really big deal and, for the time, a as a reminder of a different time and
guard’ that for years when I was at with a tragic flight in 1954, and how a President Eisenhower, in a lavish event household name. Over time the gloss a different kind of pilot. It was looked
George Air Force Base, was just a back- beloved member of a community was at the White House, paid tribute to his fades away, but to the citizens of his upon by a community that held these
drop to my everyday work schedule. It treated back in the days when a heroic accomplishment by awarding Captain hometown Apple Valley, their love for men and events close to their hearts,
was an old F-86 up on blocks, sitting hometown fighter pilot was bigger than McConnell the Distinguished Service him was never-ending — so much so as they inspired them just like any se-
just west of the headquarters build- any celebrity of the time period. Cross for his actions on May 18, 1953. that the community not only built him rial superhero in comic books or Sat-
ing. With the name “Beauteous Butch” Capt. Joseph Christopher McConnell The Citation read: a complete house for his family, but the urday morning cartoons and programs.
painted under the cockpit, I just figured Jr. was more than just another fighter pi- “The President of the United States local community and businesses paid
of America, under the provisions of for it all and the house, from dirt to Thus, these are the people over the last
the Act of Congress approved July 9, completion, was done in just four days! decades who always felt a connection
1918, takes pleasure in presenting the When it was completed, the Apple Val- to these generations of pilots and their
Distinguished Service Cross to Captain ley Fire Department rang the station accomplishments, seeking them out
Joseph McConnell Jr., United States bell and a parade formed, as the com- at gatherings and events to share their
Air Force, for extraordinary heroism munity escorted Captain McConnell admiration for their bravery and skill.
in connection with military operations and his family to their new home. Now an old jet sits at an airport with
against an armed enemy of the United Tragedy, however, was just around a plaque, the words do not do it justice,
Nations while serving as a Pilot with the corner as the captain, who was do-
the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squad- ing most of his flying out of George and I’m sure some people make the
ron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, AFB, was now involved with flight journey to the cemetery in Victorville
FIFTH Air Force, in action against testing the new F-86H at Edwards on Veterans or Memorial Day and pay
enemy forces in the Republic of Korea AFB. On Aug. 25, 1954, while testing respects to an American legend who
on 18 May 1953. Leading two F-86s the fifth production F-86H-1-NA (se- achieved a greatness that will never be
on an air superiority mission over rial number 52-1981) at Edwards, Mc- duplicated in modern warfare. There
North Korea, he sighted a formation Connell was killed in a crash near the was a time when all this black and
of twenty-eight MIG-15 type aircraft. base following a control malfunction. white was lived in color and with the
Determined to accomplish his mission The cause of the accident was attribut- passage of time, these things tend to
and with complete disregard for the ed to a missing bolt. Then-Maj. Chuck fade to gray. We must hope that his-
numerical odds against him, he imme- Yeager was assigned to investigate the torians and storytellers will somehow
diately attacked. Although under fire crash and replicated the malfunction at
himself, he pressed his attack to such a much higher altitude. The “H” that he find the way to bridge generations and
extent that he completely disorganized was testing had a complete hydraulic spark the imagination with the words
the enemy formation, destroying one of failure. Captain Mac, relying on his and pictures that will instill a passion
the MIGs and damaging another. Sev- experience in Korea where he had and bring back the heroes of yesterday.
eral enemy aircraft were then firing at practiced landing with just throttle and These stories motivate, inspire and put
him but, seeing that the other Sabre in rudder many times, tried this technique the color back in the service and sac-
his flight was also being fired upon, during the ill-fated flight. It almost rifice of our history’s heroes — color
he completely ignored enemy cannon worked, but ground turbulence lifted that serves to push back against the
fire directed at himself and destroyed up a wing. He ejected, but was far too gray shadows of today.
the MIG that was pursuing his wing- close to the ground. In less than a year Beauteous Butch now has a story
man. These victories, in spite of coun- from his being handed the keys to his and Capt. Joseph “Mac” McConnell
terattacks by such superior numbers, new home, he was gone, leaving a
Courtesy photograph completely unnerved the enemy to the community that mourned his loss. The Jr. will now be introduced to a new
APPLE VALLEY, Calif. Aug 10 – ACROSS THE THRESHOLD: Capt. Joseph extent that they withdrew across the beloved son of Apple Valley would no generation via this story. We hope he
C. McConnell, America’s first triple jet ace ushers his wife, Pearl, and three Yalu before further attacks could be longer be the friendly face greeted on and his exploits carry on beyond this
children, Joseph III, Kathleen and Patricia, across the threshold of “Appreciation made. Through his courage, keen flying the streets of the High Desert by fans, page and an old jet behind a fence will
House,” the home friends and neighbors in Apple Valley built and presented ability and devotion to duty, Captain young and old alike. shine a little brighter.
to them.
McConnell reflected great credit upon Beauteous Butch, the mount of a Until next time, Bob out …

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