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Claiborne Holmes Kinnard
Kinnard, Jr Claiborne (Clay) Holmes
Colonel
Born: October 29, 1912 - Franklin, TN
WWII FIGHTER ACE!
Clay Kinnard graduated with a BSCE at Vanderbilt University and joined the USAAF before WWII. He graduated from flight school in August, 1939 and served with various squadrons until going to war with the 356th FG in August, 1943. He transferred to 354FS/355FG as Squadron CO in November 1943, but was off ops with a severe ear infection until February, 1944.
Between March 29th, when Kinnard shot down an Fw 190 near Brunswick, destroyed 5 on April 5th and on April 13, Kinnard destroyed 4 more on the ground while leading the 354FS on a rampage destroying a total of 44 German aircraft and propelling the 355th FG into number three high scoring group behind the 56th an the 4th FG.
On the April 5th the 355th FG set a record with 51-2-81 that was to stand until September with Kinnard becoming first 8th AF pilot scoring 5 total air and ground in one day. The 355th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission.
Kinnard continued his leadership as one of the top tacticians in the 8th AF for strafing attacks on Luftwaffe airfields. Largely due to his tactics, the 354FS would emerge as the top Squadron in the 8th for enemy a/c destroyed on the ground.
He became the 355th FG’s seventh air ace on July 7, 1944 when he shot down three German fighters including 2 Me 410’s and an 109 while receiving the DSC for breaking up a major attack on B-24’s near Merseburg.
Kinnard became 355th FG Deputy CO in June, 1944, then moved on to the 4th FG as Deputy then Group CO until the end of his first tour. When he returned in February, 1945 as Group Commander of the 355th FG, he continued the pace and the 355th ended as the third highest scoring group in the 8th AF. The 355th destroyed more enemy aircraft between April 1, 1944 through the end of the war, than any other 8th AF Fighter Group.
Kinnard scored his last two air victories near Prague when he shot down two 109’s to finish with 8 air and 17 ground scores. Following that April 20 mission he remarked that he wished the German fighter pilots had chosen to stay on the ground that late in the war.
He was the top decorated fighter pilot for the 355th FG.
He joined the Tennessee Air National Guard as CO and built a thriving business supplying his patented pre-stressed concrete beams. He passed away in 1966 from a brain tumor.
Final score was 8 destroyed (one with 4th FG) plus 1 damaged in the air, and 17 destroyed (2 with 4th FG), 9 damaged on the ground.
Awards: DSC, SS, DFC (7), AM (8), Croix de Guerre, Distinguished Unit Citation
Aircraft assigned: 356th FG 42-xxxx ; 355th FG P-47D-11RE 42-75275 WR-C Man O War, P-51B-5 43-6431 WR-A Man O War, P-51B-15 42-106950 WR-A Man O War, P-51D-5 44-13375 WR-A Man O War, 4th FG P-51D-10 44-14292 QP-A Man O War, 355th FG P-51D-15 44-15625 WR-A Man O War, P-51D-20 44-72427 WR-A Man O War, P-51D-25 44-73144 WR-A Man O War
Written by Bill Marshall,
author "Angels, Bulldogs and Dragons - History of the 355FG in WWII"
Contributed by Bill Marshall, October, 2006. Unverified.
The text is copyright Bill Marshall 2006. All Rights Reserved. You may not copy or reproduce this biography without the express written consent of Bill Marshall.
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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John Abbotts
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P-47 transition followed at Pocatello, Idaho and Greenville, Texas after which he was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group in England. When the news of his arrival reached Berlin, Hitler retired to his bunker with his cyanide capsule and revolver. Eva found the news equally depressing.
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Asa A. Adair
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He returned to the States in August of 1944 after participating in the invasion "D" Day. He flew P-63's, P-51's, F-80's, T-33's, F-84's, T-38's, P-47's in numerous assignments during the following twenty years in in, Japan, U.S.A. and Europe before retiring after twenty-six years of Active Duty.
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Edward B. Addison
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The 507th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47N's, won the Presidential Unit Citation for destroying 32 Japanese aircraft in the air on one mission to Seoul, Korea. The average flying time for raids to Korea and Japan would be 7 to 9 hours flying time. In a total of 31 months, the 507th not only provided top cover for B-29's, but also
dive-bombed, napalm-bombed and flew low-level on strafing missions.
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Levon B. Agha-Zarian
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It is rumored that he, took his primary training on a flying rug. He flew Spits, briefly, in England, but as the, war moved to the East, he was sent to India as a Sgt. Pilot and first saw action from Ceylon, flying the Curtiss P.36, the Brewster Buffalo, and the Hurricane. At this point he might have opted for the rug! This was at the time of the fall of Singapore and the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse.
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George N. Ahles
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Posted to A-20 light bomber squadron Barksdale Field, Louisiana. . Group moved to Hunter Air Base Savannah, Georgia. Qualified for Pilot training November 1940. Entered Aviation Cadets January 1942. Presented wings November 1942 class of 42-J. Married Mary Louise while in Advanced Pilot Training at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama, September 1942.
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Roy J. Aldritt
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Shortly after the group moved to France he ran into some unseen flak and was forced to make a nylon descent behind the lines; some evasion and a lot of luck had him back with his unit
in 24 hours.
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Eugene J. Amaral
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After graduation from Stonington High School he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in December 1942 and was called to active duty in March, 1943. He received his wings and commission at Spence Field, Georgia as a member of the Class of 43-C.
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Talmadge L. Ambrose
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Flew 84 missions thru VE Day, was downed by 22mm ground fire over Siefried Line. He destroyed 11 enemy aircraft, 9 known confirmed in air and on
ground, including 4 FW 190-D's in one afternoon over Hanover, Germany, April 8, 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 17 man, Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, Pacific Theatre and European Theatre Meda1s with 5 Battle
Stars and Unit Citation Medal.
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John C. Anderson
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After P-47 transition he was assigned to the 406th Fighter Group, 512th Fighter Squadron. (E.T
.0.) He flew 56 missions through January, 1945 destroying supply routes, bridges, and railroads; he also flew close support missions with the ground forces, with attacks on tanks, artillery and enemy positions.
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William Anderson
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It was not always flak,two ME-109's beat the hell out of me one day. The central controller called me and said "Basher-Red Leader do you have contact Bandits," I replied, "I sure do, I'll bring them over the field in 3 minutes, they're chasing me home." Got all the usual medals including two Belgium and two French but one I'm most proud of is the Silver Star -it is the greatest.
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