General Kinney first saw aerial combat during the Marine Corps’ historic defense of Wake Island where flying the Grumman F4F fighter, he was credited with the destruction of one Japanese bomber and playing a major role in keeping the island’s tiny force of fighters in the air.  Following the island’s surrender, General Kinney was sent to a Japanese POW camp in Shanghai, China.  Following nearly three years in captivity, Kinney and three other Marine officers and Flying Tiger pilot Louis Bishop escaped from Japanese captivity and were rescued by Chinese Communist guerrilla forces.  Following the Second World War, Kinney returned to flying operations and flew Grumman F9F Panther jet fighter in combat during the Korean War.  Following Korea, the general worked on flight test and development and played and important role in development of the Douglas A4  attack aircraft.

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