Edward C Ennis

   The B-25s that endured, the men who flew them,and the missions that helped win the war.
                                T/Sgt. Edward C. Ennis

Info and photos provided by his daughter,  Barbara Ennis Connolly

Edward C. Ennis entered the service on March 27, 1942 at Fort George Meade, Maryland. He was then sent to Biloxi, Mississippi where he scored so high that he was given his choice of anything. Skipping basic training, he went directly to the United States Army Air Corps Radio School at Scott Field, Illinois.
 
Ed Ennis and Jack Best then went to "the Club" at Boca Raton in Florida to learn the new "Top-secret" Airborne RADAR (RAdioDetectingAndRanging).   Ed Ennis said "The English gave it to us and we learned how to use it, without yet knowing how it worked."  It was a Court Martial Offence to even say the word RADAR out loud !  Ed was there at "The Club" (Mizner's Exclusive LuxuryClub), now being converted for the AAC, Edward was one of the 1st there, and in the first "Class" BEFORE the 1st official Class, the BRAAF was not completed, or opened for teaching intil 15 Oct.  Edward and Jack arrived about the 22nd Sept. (FBI Certification before Graduation 12 Sept.1942 at the AAC Radio Academy at Scott Field, Ill.)  and Graduated 22 Dec. 1942, having enough time to arrive at DeRidder AAB, LA for assignment to the 321stBG, 447thBS 1st Jan. 1943.

    Meeting back up with Brownie, Sergeant Ennis received his flying training at De Ridder Army Air Base, Louisiana, where he was selected for Officers Candidate School. He turned this down however, with the explanation that the work he was doing was so interesting that he did not want to give it up. At De Ridder, Walter Cantrell had been with Lt. Albert Duke and the crew for many months training and flying. Only days before departure from the States, Lt. Duke arrived with their "brand-spanking-new" B-25 (Trigger, #41-13171) that had been equipped with RADAR. This was to be a lead ship and Walter was replaced with Ed Ennis, newly graduated from radar school. Ennis said "there were only 5 radar men to each squadron." Walter Cantrell was assigned to Lt. R.Richardson's ship, the "Harp #41-31007", with whom he flew 49 of his 50 missions. Ed Ennis and Charles O. Brown, and his soon-to-be new friend Walter Cantrell were all members of the original crew of the 447th Bomb Squad...and the 321st Bomb Group ...who flew in the "now famous" HOP across the Atlantic with CO Col. Knapp leading the formation. The 321st, commanded by Col. Knapp was the first group to fly from the United States to an overseas base in a single mass. From reports and photo's generously given to Ed's daughter, Barbara, we now know that Ed flew many missions...not only the flight over with Lt. Albert Duke, but with Lt. Henry Stephenson, Lt. Robert Spikes, Lt. James Bugbee, Lt. Charles Grantham, Lt. Hamilton Brinkley (Huckelberry Duck crash 41-12925 4 Oct. '43), Lt. Wilton Brinkley, Lt.Dan Mc Duff, Lt. Davies.....and others.

The above panel, excised from the February 14, 1943 Operations Order #56 instructing the 321st Bombardment Group's flight from Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida to their assignment overseas, shows Edward Ennis' crew on B-25 #41-13171 "Trigge
 
                   Morrison Field, Fla. Feb. 15, 1943   "Ennis Almost Left Behind"



OUTLINE HISTORY, 447th Bomb. Sq., Chap. II:

"Everyone had a good time at Morrison field for 2 days. On Feb. 15th, 1943 the Squadron took off on the first leg of the crossing. Everyone got up at 6 o'clock to get an early start. However, the mess hall at the field was not adequate to feed the entire group and it took about 3 hours to get breakfast. "SGT. ENNIS" was almost left when he was sent for sandwiches and did (not) come back until his plane was taxing out."
 
War Diary, 447th Bombardment Squadron:

"The 321st, commanded by Col. Robert Knapp, was the first group to fly from the United States to an overseas base in a single mass flight. It was also the first to use tail and waist guns in the B-25s. During more than 18 months of Combat Operations in this theater, the unit bagged eight enemy fighters for every bomber it lost."

Technical Sergeant Edward C. Ennis: air medal with three oak leaf clusters, good conduct medal, Europe/Africa/Middle East service medal with five bronze stars, distinguished unit badge.

Tunisia, Sicily, Naples/Foggia, Rome/Arno, Air-Offensive Balkans.

Radio Technician 778, radar observer/waist-gunner.

Ennis said on his 90th birthday in 2004: "I only flew a few missions as a bombardier and in my 90 years, I never did do another thing that was more scary."
   Barbi Ennis Connolly, 2009 321st BG Historian  PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com  

It is 2009, and I am Ed's daughter, Barbi Ennis Connolly.   In doing his life-story, I find there are 2 pages on him, (Courtesy of the U S Army Air Corp ;)  so this page is dedicated to mostly what I can find frim when he was smaller.  His Mother, Helen died when Ed was 2 1/2, his Dad worked in the Coal Mill on the Deleware River, and Ed attended school there.  Ed said he never knew he was poor, everyone was the same there.  His father worked very hard, but Ed mostly raised himself.  Swimming in the river, making a fire with the other boys and having a potato to cook and eat was his favorite.  His Dad had a massive stroke when Ed was about 11 and they moved to Germantoen (Phila) to live with older brother, Henry and his family.  His father passed and Ed attended the Little Flower School there, graduating with highest honors ever recordrd to that time.  He turned down a full scholorship to LaSalle College-Prep.  Ed worked every day at the local grocer for free, they liked him and as a reward, he got all the old fruit, veggies and once a week, the butcher gave Ed a big bone with some meat on it.  Times were very hard, Ed lived with his brother Henry and his family,  now had also brother Joe, 2 sisters, Chris and Rose living with them in Germantown, Phila.

 After Graduating 8th Grade, Ed took his 1st full time job, 66 hours a week for $ 5.00.

Barbi Ennis Connolly,  PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com