John Joseph Connelly

John Joseph Connelly (World War II veteran), age 100, of Jacksonville, Florida passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025. John was born on January 17, 1925, in Newark, New Jersey to Patrick Henry Connelly and Margaret O’Keefe Connelly. John was a native of the ironbound section of Newark and graduated from Seton Hall Prep in June of 1943. On August 17, 1943, he was inducted into the Air Corps at Fort Dix, New Jersey and in September he was sent to Miami Beach, Florida for basic training. His active duty began on September 7, 1943. John’s further training in gunnery school and phase and crew training were done in Texas from November to December of that year.

John’s crew was then sent to Topeka, Kansas where they obtained a new B-24 Liberator bomber which they flew to Prestwick, Scotland. Landing on D-Day they continued with further training.

As a Staff Sergeant, on July 4th, they flew their first mission, which was to Bernburg, Germany. On their 8th mission, July 21st, 1944, they were hit by flak in two different instances, damaging the plane and causing the pilot to have rudder control issues. Knowing they would be unable to make it back to base, the officers decided to head to Switzerland.

The pilot being told by the navigator that they were over Switzerland, gave the order to bail out. This resulted in the German capture of the 10-member crew because they had, in fact, bailed out into the black Forest of Germany. This navigation error resulted in John and others in the crew becoming POWs in Stalag Luft 4, located in the Pomeranian area of Germany, near the Baltic Sea. The camp was evacuated on February 6th, 1945, and the men were marched across Germany to Stalag 11B, Fallingbostel, an English prison camp which was liberated on April 16th, 1945, by the tanks of the Scottish Regiment (Desert Rats).

After many experiences of being a POW and liberation traveling, he arrived at Camp Lucky Strike in France. After processing he was put on the George Washington ship for the states.

John was honorably discharged from his service on October 19, 1945.

Eventually civilian life became a reality. He went to college on the G.I. Bill, married, had 5 children, and began his career. When he retired from owning a real estate and insurance firm, John was 80 years old. He moved to Florida and joined the local VFW post having been a member of a VFW post in New Jersey. John was recently presented an award for being a VFW post member for 75 years. He has been a speaker at various veterans' groups, grade schools, high schools, and churches. He also had the honor of being named Grand Marshal in the Veteran’s Day parade twice.

Survivors include his wife, Winona Connelly; his children Debra Hackett (Robert), Denise Nestor (Robert), Colleen VanderVeen, Fawn Stoner, and John Jay Connelly (Gina); one stepson, John A. Carpinelli; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Jeanne Connelly; his parents, Patrick Henry and Margaret O’Keefe Connelly; and his seven siblings.

A memorial mass for John will be held Friday, March 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 601 Airport Center Dr E, Jacksonville, FL 32218. A committal service will follow on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218. A reception following committal service will occur Friday, March 14, 2025, at home of Robert and Susan Pollett (address and details will be provided to guests at the services).