Remembering ADR1 Ballard F. Connors, Jr., USN, KIA, EC-121 Shootdown

Aviation Machinist’s Mate First Class Connors was born on December 21, 1942 in Floyd County Kentucky. At the age of 27 Petty Officer Connors was killed along with 30 other crewmen when the EC-121 they were flying in was shot down by North Korea. He was presumed dead on May 2, 1969. Petty Officer Connors was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal. He is buried at Miami Cemetery in Corwin Ohio.

Today, Petty Officer Connors, his family and his friends would have celebrated his 78th birthday.