Claiborne H. Kinnard Jr.

Claiborne Holmes Kinnard Jr. (October 28, 1912– September 18, 1966) was a pilot from Franklin, Tennessee, who in World War II became a flying ace in the United States Army Air Force with the rank of Colonel.[1][2] He is officially credited with the destruction of 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and another 17 on the ground while strafing heavily defended enemy airfields.

Claiborne H. Kinnard Jr.
Nickname(s)Clay, Zoot
Born(1912-10-29)October 29, 1912
Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedSeptember 18, 1966(1966-09-18) (aged 53)
Buried
Mount Hope Cemetery
Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force Reserves
Tennessee Air National Guard
Years of service1938 - 1966
RankColonel
Service numberO-383753
Unit356th Fighter Group
355th Fighter Group
4th Fighter Group
Commands held360th Fighter Squadron
354th Fighter Squadron
4th Fighter Group
355th Fighter Group
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (7)
Air Medal (8)

Early and personal life

He was born and raised in Franklin, Tennessee in the historic Claiborne Kinnard House on a farm owned by his father, Claiborne Kinnard Sr. The family farm was located at the corner of Lewisburg Pike and Carnton Lane (now the Heath Place subdivision).[3] The property has historical significance as being the site of the eastern flank of the Civil War Battle of Franklin in 1864. Kinnard's farm was the encampment site of Gen. John Bell Hood's army in 1864.[4] The Kinnard family built a large swimming pool on the property, a business venture known as "Willow Plunge" which was very popular and remained in business from 1924 to 1967.[5][3] Kinnard managed the swimming pool and its associated nine-hole golf course in his youth and helped run other family businesses. Kinnard attended Vanderbilt University and graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

He became a skilled golfer and competed in state and regional tournaments.[6][7] Kinnard married Ruth McDowell of Montgomery, Alabama, whom he met during a tour of duty at Maxwell Field.[8] They had three children, Judith, John and Claiborne.[9]: 21 

Military career

He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in 1938 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1939. He trained at Randolph Field and had experience in flying every type of American fighter plane available at that time.[8] He served as instructor pilot at Randolph Field and later at airfields in Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia, from September 1940 to May 1943.[10]

World War II
Kinnard in flight suit with goggles (1944)

Deployed to England during WWII, Kinnard became commander of the 360th Fighter Squadron of the 356th Fighter Group in May 1943. He was commander of the 354th Fighter Squadron of the 355th Fighter Group from November 1943 to June 1944.[11] On March 29, 1944, Kinnard shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 near Braunschweig, Germany, his first aerial victory. He destroyed 4 more aircraft on the ground while leading the 354th FS on a strafing mission which in total destroyed 44 German aircraft. On the April 5th, the 355th FG set a record, that was to stand until September with Kinnard becoming the first Eighth Air Force pilot to score his fifth total air and ground kill in one day. The 355th FG received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission. Kinnard served with Headquarters 355th Fighter Group from July to September 1944.[12][13]

Replica of Kinnard's 4th Fighter Group P-51D Mustang (44-14292) Man O’ War

Kinnard continued his leadership as one of the top tacticians in the Eighth Air Force for strafing attacks. Largely due to him, the 354th FS would emerge as the top squadron for enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. He became the 355th FG's seventh flying ace on July 7, 1944, when he shot down three German fighters including 2 Messerschmitt Me 410s and a Messerschmitt Bf-109 while breaking up a German fighter attack on B-24 Liberators near Merseburg, Germany, for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross. Kinnard scored his last two aerial victories near Prague, Czechoslovakia, when he shot down two Bf 109's on April 20, 1945.[13]

Writing about Kinnard, author and flying ace Norman Fortier said there was "no question in anyone's mind that he was in charge".[1]: 112  He was with the 4th Fighter Group from September to December 1944 and commander from November to December before returning to the 355th Fighter Group.[13]

Kinnard was credited with destroying 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged, and he destroyed 17 more on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. He flew an aircraft bearing the legend "Man 'O War". All of Kinnard's fighters – a P-47D, two P-51Bs and five P-51Ds – bore this name.[14]: 106 [1]: 147 

Later life

After the war, Kinnard returned to Tennessee to live on his family farm. He left active duty in December 1945, and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve before transferring to the Tennessee Air National Guard in 1953.[10] With partner Howard Johnson, he owned the Superlock Block Company in Franklin.[15] Other business interests were Breeko Block and Brick Company and Span Deck, a machine company.[9]: 21  With his father, he co-managed the Willow Plunge Pool and recreation area that occupied a portion of the farm. Kinnard purchased an airplane and built an airstrip on the property in 1947, and for a couple of years, offered plane rides to Willow Plunge patrons.[16] Kinnard died in 1966 from a brain tumor.[17]

Aerial victory credits
Date#TypeLocationAircraft flownUnit Assigned
March 29, 19441Focke-Wulf Fw 190Brunswick, GermanyP-51B Mustang354 FS, 355 FG
April 5, 19441Junkers W 34Landsberg am Lech, GermanyP-51B354 FS, 355 FG
July 7, 19442Messerschmitt Me 410Halle, GermanyP-51B355 FG Hq
July 7, 19441Messerschmitt Bf 109Halle, GermanyP-51B355 FG Hq
April 5, 19441Bf 109Halle, GermanyP-51D Mustang355 FG Hq
April 5, 19442Bf 109Prague, CzechoslovakiaP-51D355 FG Hq
SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations

His awards include:

  USAF Command pilot badge
Distinguished Service Cross[lower-alpha 1]
Silver Star[8]
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Distinguished Flying Cross with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters[8]
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Medal with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters[8]
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster[8]
American Defense Service Medal[8]
American Campaign Medal[8]
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze campaign stars[8]
World War II Victory Medal[8]
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass device
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)

See also

Notes
  1. Kinnard's Distinguished Service Citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy, 7 July 1944 while leading his Group in the escort of heavy bombers at Halle, Germany. Circling the target area, Colonel Kinnard observed 20 enemy airplanes attacking the bomber formation. Approaching to intercept them Colonel Kinnard discovered he had become separated from his Group and was leading a flight of only three airplanes. Despite the odds against him he immediately attacked, destroying one enemy fighter and dispersing the entire formation. In the encounter Colonel Kinnard's wing man was lost, and, at this moment, 30 enemy airplanes which had been acting as top cover launched their attack. Colonel Kinnard, in his firm resolve to protect the bomber formation, launched a fearless and daring attack on the enemy, notwithstanding their numerical superiority. So skillful and vicious was his attack that he was able to destroy two more of the enemy and protect his wing man while the latter destroyed another. The outstanding heroism and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Kinnard on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States."[8]

References
  1. Norman J. Fortier (18 December 2007). An Ace of the Eighth: An American Fighter Pilot's Air War in Europe. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-41455-7.
  2. Bill Marshall (1984). Angels, bulldogs & dragons. Champlin Fighter Museum. ISBN 978-0-912173-02-3.
  3. Harmuth, Zach (May 31, 2017). "Willow Plunge: The Place Where Williamson County Used to Spend Its Summers". Williamson Source. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. Burch, Bonnie (November 30, 1999). "Play War/ Civil War Pageants Staged in 1960s Inspire Today's Re-enactors". No. 95:334. The Tennessean. pp. 1–W, 9–W. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  5. Morris, Chuck (May 22, 1997). "Swimmers Flocked to Willow Plunge". Vol. 93, no. 142. The Tennessean. pp. 4–W, 5–W. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  6. O'Donnell, Red (July 7, 1938). "Kinnard Shooting Best Golf of Career". No. 32:701. The Nashville Tennessean. p. 13. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  7. "Claiborne Kinnard Leads Tennessee Valley Tourney". Vol. 26, no. 12. The Tennessean. August 13, 1931. p. 7. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  8. Morgan, Marshall (November 21, 1950). "Air Ace Leaves Laurels To Manage Franklin Firm". No. 75:193. Nashville Banner. pp. 3, 9. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  9. "Claiborne Kinnard Services Today". No. 61:141. The Tennessean. September 19, 1966. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  10. "Claiborne H. Kinnard, Jr". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  11. Maurer, M. (1983). Air Force combat units of World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. pp. 36 & 237. ISBN 0912799021. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  12. "355th Fighter Group". Army Air Corps Library and Museum. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  13. "Claiborne Holmes Kinnard "Clay"". Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  14. "USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II" (PDF). afhra.af.mil. Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF. 1978. Retrieved August 13, 2022. USAF Historical Study No. 85
  15. "Did You Know? Superlock Building Blocks Began 50 Years Ago". No. 93:92. The Tennessean. April 2, 1997. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  16. "Recreational Area Includes Airport". No. 72:94. Nashville Banner. July 29, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  17. "Claiborne Holmes Kinnard Jr". americanairmuseum.com. Imperial War Museums 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
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