Democratic primary for the nomination. He defeated Edwin T. Meredith in the primary, but was defeated by Senator Cummins in the general election. Connolly was replaced in the House by Republican Burton E. Sweet, who had defeated Democrat J.C. Murtagh. In all, Connolly served in Congress from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915. Military service After leaving Congress, Connolly returned to Dubuque to run his family's carriage company. He also became an executive of Dubuque Fire and Insurance Company. Connolly was an at-large delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention. President Wilson appointed him as postmaster of Dubuque. After the United States entered World War I, Connolly enlisted, earning his flight wings and serving as captain, then major, in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. He served as adjutant, executive officer and commanding officer at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois, Wilbur Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, and Hazelhurst Field in Mineola, New York. When the armistice was declared, he was assigned to Washington, where he assisted Major General William L. Kenly, first head of the United States Army Air Service. Connolly also flew in one of the "flying circuses" of fliers performing to raise funds for the Liberty Loan program. Connolly and future New York City Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia were the only former congressmen to earn their wings in World War I. Death Following the war, Connolly became the Washington representative for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. He was killed in an airplane accident near Indian Head, Maryland on May 28, 1921. He was one of two civilian passengers killed along with five air corps officers, including Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. Archie Miller, when their army Curtiss Eagle converted air ambulance crashed during a wind and electrical storm when returning to Washington D.C. At the time, it was considered the worst aviation accident in U.S. history. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Key West, Iowa. See also List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (pre-1925) References 1877 births 1921 deaths Cornell University alumni Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Accidental deaths in Maryland New York University School of Law alumni Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa 20th-century American politicians United States Army Air Service pilots of World War I Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1921