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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
Tennessee | |
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Year of Birth
1912 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Kinnard, Claiborne Holmes, IV, Col.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town
Franklin, Tennessee |
Last Address
Franklin, Tennessee
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Date of Passing
Sep 18, 1966 |
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Location of Interment
Mount Hope Cemetery - Franklin, Tennessee |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Not Specified |
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Last Known Activity
He was credited with destroying 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged and 17 more destroyed on the ground.
He died of a brain tumor while on active duty.
His DSC citation:
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Claiborne H. Kinnard, Jr. (ASN: 0-383723), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane assigned to Headquarters, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 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.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 73 (1944)
Action Date: July 7, 1944
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Company: Headquarters
Regiment: 355th Fighter Group
Division: 8th Air Force
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Other Comments:
Sources:
http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=572
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/kinnardchweba.pdf
http://www.cieldegloire.com/014_kinnard_c_h.php
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=355
http://www.cieldegloire.com/fg_355.php
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/355th_Fighter_Group.cfm
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=149325992
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/31577
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=23105
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1938-1939, AAF MOS 770, Aviation Cadet Flight School
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1939-1940, AAF MOS 770, Army Air Forces Central Instructors School (CIS)
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1942-1943, AAF MOS 770, 74th Flying Training Wing (Staff)
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1943-1943, 360th Fighter Squadron
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1943-1943, AAF MOS 1055, 356th Fighter Group
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1943-1944, AAF MOS 1065, 354th Fighter Squadron - Bulldogs
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1943-1944, AAF MOS 1055, 355th Fighter Group
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1944-1944, AAF MOS 2161, 355th Fighter Group
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1944-1944, AAF MOS 1065, 4th Fighter Group
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1945-1945, AAF MOS 1065, 355th Fighter Group
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1945-1953, Air Force Reserve Command
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1953-1966, Tennessee Air National Guard
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