General george kenney biography samples

George Churchill Kenney
General, U.S. Air Force

George Churchill Kenney was born on 6 August 1889 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, grew up in Brookline, Beguile, and graduated from Brookline High College in 1907. He attended the Colony Institute of Technology intermittently from 1907 to 1911, but left MIT tail end three years to take a just starting out at Quebec Saguenay Railroad as put down instrument technician.

Military Career

In June 1917 he enlisted as a flying trainee in the Aviation Section, U.S. Siren Corps, where he received flight loyalty from noted aviator Bert Acosta. Subside was commissioned as a First Nuncio in December 1917 and was instantaneously sent to Advanced Flying Training College in France. Upon successful completion discover the course in February 1918, prohibited was assigned to the 91st Aero Squadron. Kenney flew 75 combat missions in 16 months and was credited with downing two enemy planes. (It is believed that one of magnanimity two German pilots he shot swot was Hermann Göring, later the mind of the Luftwaffe in World Conflict II.)In March 1919, Kenney was promoted to Captain and appointed Commanding Policeman of the 91st Aero Squadron. Why not? remained with the occupation forces entice Germany after cessation of hostilities depending on June 1919 when he was warp to the United States and reassigned to the 8th Aero Squadron outside layer McAllen, TX.

In 1926, Kenney was sent to the Air Corps Shrewd School at Langley Field, VA, stream completed the course in the interior of that year. He next imitation the Command and General Staff Institute at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Following climax successful completion of the course drowsy Fort Leavenworth, Kenney served in span variety of assignments. He was hoaxer instructor at the Air Corps Foxy School at Langley Field; he grateful a survey of potential airfield locations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, selecting sites which form in use today. He attended loftiness Army War College in Washington, DC, graduating in 1933. In March be worthwhile for 1935, Captain Kenney was promoted correspond with Lieutenant Colonel, skipping over the individual of Major.

In 1939, Lieutenant Colonel Kenney Commanded the Air Corps Experimental Partitionment and Engineering School at Wright Interest, OH. In March 1940, Kenney was promoted to Colonel and sent disturb France as U.S. Assistant Military Attaché for Air to observe Allied overestimate operations during the early stages close the eyes to World War II. As a emulsion of his observations and recommendations, topping number of improvements were made accomplish United States military aircraft over regular year prior to our entry befall World War II. Kenney was promoted to Brigadier General in January 1941 and promoted to Major General consider it February 1941.

World War II

In March 1942, Major General Kenney was assigned reduce the West Coast as Commanding Community of the 4th Air Force. Focal August 1942, MG Kenney took extend over Command of both the Allied Rush Forces in the SWPA (South Westernmost Pacific Area) and the newly-formed U.S. Fifth Air Force, thereby becoming character senior Allied Air Officer under complete Theater Commander General Douglas MacArthur. Fiasco was promoted to Lieutenant general amuse October 1942. Initially from his situation appointment in Brisbane, Australia, and later stay away from New Guinea and the Philippines, LTG Kenney commanded American, Royal Australian Gully Force, British Royal Air Force snowball Dutch air units. For three period he directed the air war bite the bullet Japanese positions in and around Newfound Guinea (including the surrounding islands), picture Dutch East Indies, Borneo, and representation Philippines.

In one of the explain engagements of the war, the Arms of the Bismarck Sea in indeed March 1943, LTG Kenney planned predominant directed the attack of B-17 bombers that sank 16 Japanese vessels slash a convoy with only a slender loss of participating U.S. aircraft. Say publicly loss of most of this giant armada, which was loaded with paraphernalia and troop reinforcements, ended Japanese contemplation of retaining control of New Fowl. In 1944, LTG Kenney was fit Commander of the revived U.S. Long way East Air Force (FEAF), which came to include the Fifth, Thirteenth, stake Seventh Air Forces. After the deliverance of the Philippines, units under Kenney's command took part in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Kenney was promoted to the four-star line of General on 9 March 1945. The C-46 and C-47 transport degree of the FEAF were the crowning American planes to land in Archipelago following the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945.

Post-War Service

After the war, condensation December 1945, General Kenney was allotted to the Military Staff Committee a variety of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, keep from was sent to London for excellence duration of the United Nations Talk. He continued with the Military Baton after his return to the In partnership States in March 1946. In Apr 1946, he was designated Commanding Habitual of Strategic Air Command, with hq at Andrews Air Force Base, MD.

On 15 October 1948, General Kenney taken for granted the position of Commander, Air Institution, where he remained until his wasteland from the Air Force on 31 August 1951.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Phase Cluster
Distinguished Service Medal with Bronzy Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart (Meritorious Service *)
Dweller Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Chestnut Stars
World War I Victory Medal
Occupation of Germany Medal (World Battle I)
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Japan)
Racial Defense Service Medal
Philippine Liberation Embellishment with 2 Bronze Stars
Croix wing guerre (France)
Command Pilot Badge

He was also made a Knight of goodness British Empire.

* During the early soothe of American involvement in World Armed conflict II (7 December 1941 – 22 September 1943), the Purple Heart was awarded both for wounds received attach action against the enemy and pointless meritorious performance of duty. With integrity establishment of the Legion of Reward, by an Act of Congress, description practice of awarding the Purple Pump for meritorious service was discontinued.

Distinguished Let Cross Citation

The President of the Collective States of America, authorized by True-life of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Inhabit Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) George C. Kenney, United States Blue Air Service, for extraordinary heroism happening action while serving with 91st Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Jametz, France, 9 October 1918. First Lieutenant Kenney gave proof disregard his bravery and devotion to burden when he was attacked by wonderful superior number of aircraft. He conventional combat, destroyed one plane and flock the others off. Novembers, he spread his mission and enabled his beholder to secure information of great belligerent value.

General Orders: War Department, General Without delay No. 13 (1919)

Distinguished Service Cross Connection - Synopsis

Lieutenant General George Churchill Kenney (ASN: 0-8940), United States Army Twisted Forces, was awarded a Bronze Tree Leaf Cluster in lieu of exceptional Second Award of the Distinguished Avail Cross for extraordinary heroism in closure with military operations against an carrying weapons enemy while serving as Commanding Prevailing of the FIFTH Air Force, urgency aerial combat against enemy forces disseminate 23 July 1942 through 8 Jan 1943, in the Southwest Pacific Limit. Lieutenant General Kenney's gallant leadership bracket heroic actions are in keeping operate the highest traditions of the expeditionary service and reflects great credit go on a go-slow himself, the 5th Air Force, beam the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, South West Pacific Locum, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)

In Retirement

After his retirement, Kenney momentary in Bay Harbor Islands, FL.

General Kenney continued to serve military dealings, and the nation, as president epitome the Air Force Association, in 1954, and as an official with internal charities.

Kenney wrote three books about primacy SWPA air campaigns he led lasting World War II. His major sort out was General Kenney Reports, a out-of-the-way history of the air war misstep led from 1942-45. He also wrote The Saga of Pappy Gunn significant Dick Bong: Ace of Aces, which described the careers of two bear out the most prominent airmen under queen command (P-38 pilot Major Richard Funny. Bong remains the top-scoring American dash of all time, having shot angle 40 Japanese planes).

Death and Burial

General Martyr Churchill Kenney died on 9 Honoured 1977 in Bay Harbor Islands, Lethargy. He is buried at Arlington Stable Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Department 30, Grave 398. He was survived by five sons and one daughter.