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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."
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in 1953. With partner Howard
Johnson, he owned the Superlock Block Company in Franklin. Other business interests were Breeko Block and Brick Company and Span Deck, a machine company. With his father, he co-managed the Willow Plunge Pool and recreation area that occupied a portion of the farm. Kinnard
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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
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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.
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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. He served as instructor pilot at Randolph Field and later at
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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). The property has historical significance as being the site of the eastern flank of the
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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
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He became a skilled golfer and competed in state and regional tournaments. Kinnard married Ruth McDowell of
Montgomery, Alabama, whom he met during a tour of duty at Maxwell Field. They had three children, Judith, John and Claiborne.
297:" which was very popular and remained in business from 1924 to 1967. Kinnard managed the swimming pool and its associated nine-hole golf course in his youth and helped run other family businesses. Kinnard attended
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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. Kinnard died in 1966 from a brain tumor.
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Writing about
Kinnard, author and flying ace Norman Fortier said there was "no question in anyone's mind that he was in charge". He was with the
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After the war, Kinnard returned to
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army in 1864. The Kinnard family built a large swimming pool on the property, a business venture known as "
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heavily defended enemy airfields. Kinnard received 12 medals for distinguished service, including the
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for the mission. Kinnard served with Headquarters 355th Fighter Group from July to September 1944.
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Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II
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1267:. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. pp. 36 & 237.
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from November 1943 to June 1944. On March 29, 1944, Kinnard shot down a
1406:. Vol. 72, no. 94. Nashville Banner. July 29, 1947. p. 3
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on July 7, 1944, when he shot down three German fighters including 2
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An Ace of the Eighth: An American Fighter Pilot's Air War in Europe
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Deployed to England during WWII, Kinnard became commander of the
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1215:. Vol. 61, no. 141. The Tennessean. September 19, 1966
1101:. Vol. 93, no. 142. The Tennessean. pp. 4–W, 5–W
1078:. Vol. 95, no. 334. The Tennessean. pp. 1–W, 9–W
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Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
1190:. Vol. 75, no. 193. Nashville Banner. pp. 3, 9
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Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
1382:"Did You Know? Superlock Building Blocks Began 50 Years Ago"
1384:. Vol. 93, no. 92. The Tennessean. April 2, 1997
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in 1864. Kinnard's farm was the encampment site of Gen.
221:(October 28, 1912– September 18, 1966) was a pilot from
1359:. Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF. 1978
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United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
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Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
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417:. Kinnard scored his last two aerial victories near
1144:"Claiborne Kinnard Leads Tennessee Valley Tourney"
961:Kinnard's Distinguished Service Citation reads: "
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765:with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
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1188:"Air Ace Leaves Laurels To Manage Franklin Firm"
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1122:"Kinnard Shooting Best Golf of Career"
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991:Norman J. Fortier (18 December 2007).
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354:in May 1943. He was commander of the
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789:Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
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1099:"Swimmers Flocked to Willow Plunge"
1074:Burch, Bonnie (November 30, 1999).
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241:and another 17 on the ground while
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1213:"Claiborne Kinnard Services Today"
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1325:"Claiborne Holmes Kinnard "Clay""
1300:Army Air Corps Library and Museum
997:. Random House Publishing Group.
889:Air Force Longevity Service Award
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859:with one silver and two bronze
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301:and graduated with a degree in
225:, who in World War II became a
1097:Morris, Chuck (May 22, 1997).
1048:Harmuth, Zach (May 31, 2017).
1021:Angels, bulldogs & dragons
804:American Defense Service Medal
460:Chronicle of aerial victories
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1426:"Claiborne Holmes Kinnard Jr"
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1432:. Imperial War Museums 2022
1024:. Champlin Fighter Museum.
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674:Distinguished Service Cross
444:before transferring to the
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372:Distinguished Unit Citation
247:Distinguished Service Cross
197:Distinguished Service Cross
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903:Armed Forces Reserve Medal
875:World War II Victory Medal
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269:Early and personal life
20:Claiborne H. Kinnard Jr.
1539:Aviators from Tennessee
1514:Deaths from brain tumor
1329:Warbirds Resource Group
938:Claiborne Kinnard House
818:American Campaign Medal
722:with silver and bronze
279:Claiborne Kinnard House
1018:Bill Marshall (1984).
643:Awards and decorations
453:Aerial victory credits
442:U.S. Air Force Reserve
419:Prague, Czechoslovakia
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356:354th Fighter Squadron
348:360th Fighter Squadron
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165:360th Fighter Squadron
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1296:"355th Fighter Group"
399:Messerschmitt Me 410s
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299:Vanderbilt University
117:Years of service
647:His awards include:
553:Messerschmitt Bf 109
549:Messerschmitt Me 410
403:Messerschmitt Bf 109
1261:Maurer, M. (1983).
925:with Palm (France)
360:355th Fighter Group
352:356th Fighter Group
275:Franklin, Tennessee
223:Franklin, Tennessee
177:355th Fighter Group
151:355th Fighter Group
147:356th Fighter Group
80:Mount Hope Cemetery
56:Franklin, Tennessee
571:September 11, 1944
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66:September 18, 1966
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1031:978-0-912173-02-3
1004:978-0-307-41455-7
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492:Focke-Wulf Fw 190
426:4th Fighter Group
364:Focke-Wulf Fw 190
303:civil engineering
233:with the rank of
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1459:Find a Grave
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1357:afhra.af.mil
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540:July 7, 1944
522:Junkers W 34
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368:Braunschweig
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334:World War II
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187:World War II
183:Battles/wars
68:(1966-09-18)
1479:1966 deaths
1474:1912 births
1334:October 29,
688:Silver Star
385:(44-14292)
251:Silver Star
201:Silver Star
120:1938 - 1966
35:Nickname(s)
1468:Categories
1436:August 14,
1388:August 12,
1363:August 13,
1305:2022-10-29
1280:August 13,
1274:0912799021
1247:2022-10-29
1219:August 14,
1194:August 12,
973:References
614:355 FG Hq
588:355 FG Hq
566:355 FG Hq
436:Later life
395:flying ace
387:Man O’ War
227:flying ace
89:Allegiance
49:1912-10-29
763:Air Medal
628:SOURCES:
560:, Germany
529:, Germany
497:Brunswick
474:Location
411:Merseburg
320:Louisiana
284:Civil War
259:Air Medal
210:Air Medal
1410:July 29,
1150:July 23,
1128:July 28,
1105:July 27,
1082:July 28,
1059:July 22,
932:See also
243:strafing
161:Commands
138:O-383753
97:Service/
501:Germany
358:of the
350:of the
328:Georgia
324:Alabama
235:Colonel
229:in the
128:Colonel
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603:Prague
599:Bf 109
577:Bf 109
401:and a
193:Awards
99:branch
75:Buried
58:, U.S.
1353:(PDF)
949:Notes
611:P-51D
563:P-51B
558:Halle
532:P-51B
471:Type
465:Date
409:near
366:near
1438:2022
1412:2022
1390:2022
1365:2022
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1282:2022
1269:ISBN
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1061:2022
1026:ISBN
999:ISBN
326:and
143:Unit
125:Rank
63:Died
43:Born
1457:at
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207:(7)
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