The last design for Logo Week is for the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society and their 1931 Fleet Model 8 that was owned by Fred McConnell, one of the famed McConnell Brothers who were all B-24 co-pilots with the 424th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group in the South Pacific. In October 1945, Fred and his wife were flying this aircraft to his new assignment and struck power lines and Fred was killed. The aircraft remained there for 37 years until Jim Bumgarner recovered it and began its restoration, which was completed in 1995. This year at 92, Jim donated the Model 8 to the HAPS, who will continue to honor the McConnell Brothers legacy and Jim’s story of saving this incredibly rare aircraft.
Fun Fact: McConnell Air Force Base is named after Edwin McConnell.
Pacific Wrecks has photos and information on Thomas McConnells B-24 “Alley Cat” crash site from 1943.
