ABSTRACT
He entered the navy during the Mexican crisis of 1914 aboard the battleship USS Virginia and served in other large surface units and destroyers through WW1. Prior to WW2 he studied electrical engineering at the USNA and Columbia University, earning a Master of Science degree from Columbia in 1922. He continued in heavy combatants and returned to the Naval Academy to teach electrical engineering, 1936-38. After promotion to Captain and in command of Destroyer Division Seven and Destroyer Squadron Six, his ships were part of the escort forces for US aircraft carrier operations at the beginning of WW2. Those actions included the DOOLITTLE Tokyo raid in April 1942, which involved launching twin-engine Army B-25 bombers from the carrier USS Hornet. In July 1942 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and joined Admiral Ernest KING’S staff in Washington. Connoly’s amphibious leadership began in July 1943 as commander of Task Force 86, at the invasion of Sicily and the landings in the following September at Salerno, Italy, under British command. Subsequently he was a leader in the landings at Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam, and Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in December 1945 and served in major fleet commands before appointment as President of the US Naval War College, 1950-53. He retired from active duty as an Admiral in 1953.
