O'Donnell, Emmett, 1906-1971

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General Emmett (Rosy) O'Donnell was one of aviation's pioneers who from his days as an Army Air Corps air mail pilot went on to build an impressive list of military aviation firsts. In 1941 he led the first mass flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses across the Pacific from Hawaii to the Philippines. Before World War II was two days old, he had earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. In the midst of an enemy air attack, O'Donnell dove his B-17 through antiaircraft fire to attack a Japanese cruiser and destroyer. Later in the war, he led the first maximum effort attack of B-29's against the Japanese homeland from Saipan. Early in the Korean War, O'Donnell led B-29 flights after being rushed from the United States to head bomber operations against the communists. His action in the Korean War earned him a second Distinguished Service Cross. General O'Donnell retired in 1963 after thirty-four years of service and then pursued an active civic career, including serving as President of the U.S.O., until his death in 1972.

From the description of Emmett O'Donnell collection, 1941-1963. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 317971413

Air Force officer.

From the description of Reminiscences of Emmett O'Donnell : oral history, 1967. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122411692

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL O'DONNELL'S ARRIVAL AT PACAF, HICKAM AFB, HAWAII National Archives at College Park
creatorOf O'Donnell, Emmett Jr., 1906-1972. Emmett O'Donnell collection, 1941-1963. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SYSTEM 622A MID-AIR RECOVERY National Archives at College Park
creatorOf O'Donnell, Emmett, 1906-1971. Reminiscences of Emmett O'Donnell : oral history, 1967. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESIDENT EISENHOWER VISITS HAWAII National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUT SCHIRRA'S ARRIVAL AT HICKAM AFB, HAWAII National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. FIRST ANNUAL AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION BALL National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AIR FORCE ACADEMY STORY, UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND UNITED KINGDOM, 1957 - 1959 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ARRIVAL OF URH0 K. KEKK0NEN, PRESIDENT OF FINLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS, vol. 41, no. 75 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. RECOVERY OF DISCOVERER XXV CAPSULE, HICKAM AFB, HAWAII, 18 JUNE 1961 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. World War II Cemetery Dedication National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. FLYING BROTHERS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AFA FALCON STADIUM DEDICATION, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DOCUMENTATION IN VIETNAM AND THAILAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn John Kieran Papers, 1917-1985 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF MAAG National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DEDICATION OF AFA FALCON STADIUM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [SEPT. 26] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. IT'S WHAT YOU MAKE IT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. NEIL H. MCELROY, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, AND GENERAL THOMAS D. WHITE, CHIEF OF STAFF, USAF, VISIT HICKAM AFB, HAWAII, 17 OCTOBER 1959 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL WHITE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE VISIT USAF ACADEMY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. B-29 BOMB STRIKE National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. INDONESIAN PRESIDENT SUKARNO ARRIVES AT HICKAM AFB National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. WEST GERMAN CHANCELLOR KONRAD ADENAUER VISITS HAWAII HICKAM AFB, HAWAII, 22 MARCH 1960 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DAEDALION TROPHY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ARRIVAL OF GENERAL LEMAY IN HAWAII National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. B-29'S OVER TOKYO [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. B-29'S FLY FROM JAPAN TO CHICAGO IN 25 HRS. [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL EMMETT O'DONNELL RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL KUTER'S RETIREMENT CEREMONY, PETERSON FIELD, COLORADO National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DOOLITTLE RAIDERS' REUNION National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the "Combat Bulletin" Program Series. 1944 - 1951. ACTIVITIES IN EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS (AACHEN) [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. 50TH ANNIVERSARY, MARCH AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Kieran, John, 1892-1981. person
associatedWith United States. Air Force. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Aerial operations, American
Pacific Area
Subject
Air pilots
B-17 bomber
B-29 (Bomber)
Bomber pilots
Korean War, 1950-1953
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1906-09-15

Death 1971-12-26

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 25273100