Blimp Squadron 14


Photos and history of ZP-14 from Lieutenant (junior grade) John J. Connery
provided by his brother-in-law Austin O'Malley


Lieutenant (junior grade) John J. Connery was the pilot of K-130 and officer in charge of the first leg of the transatlantic flights. With his arm out the port-side opening, Connery is manning the elevator of a K-ship in the photo above. The other pilot on the rudder is unknown but it could be Lt. (jg) C. H. Wolfarth (see below). The first pair of K-ships (K-123 & K-130) left South Weymouth, Massachusetts on May 28, 1944 on the ~800 mile (~16 hour) flight from South Weymouth to Argentia, Newfoundland. From there, separate crews flew the blimps on the second leg to the Azores from where fresh crews flew the third and final leg of the transtalantic flights to Port Lyautey, French Morocco.


The left photo shows J.J. Connery's K-130 crew that flew the first leg of the first transatlantic flights by non-rigid airships. On the right is another crew photograph with J.J. Connery kneeling on the left.


Connery's award for participating in the first transatlantic flights by non-rigid airships.


Click on the photo to see Connery's logbook.


Pisa Obit


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Contact:: don{dot}kaiser{at}gmail{dot}com