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p51 Pilots Biographies, Last Name Starting With "K"
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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Edmund J. Kendzierski
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He enlisted as an aviator cadet Jan. 29,1943 after being turned down by the draft
board for a deferment and by coincidence
recently served 5 years as draft board chairman in Santa Ana, Calif., during the Vietnam
war era.
He graduated in the class of 44B and was
commissioned at Craig Field, Selma, Alabama. Aside from his MOS 1055as a fighter
pilot, he also served with A2 intelligence on
an undercover basis, while in service. He flew
mainly P-40 and P-47's, but also piloted A-24's, C-47, B-25, C-46, C-109 and P-51's
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John J. Kennedy
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Of 39 missions
flown from Y-29 the one most remembered
was New Year's Day of 1945. 8 P-47's had
just taken off when over 60 German Fighters
attacked the field. The 8 P-47 kept the
Germans busy while the 352 Fighter Group
got their P-51 's in the air. A large number of
Jerries went down - however this flier got a
probable while getting the group commander
aircraft all shot up. It was a D-5 the only
Razorback left in the Group.
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William E. Kepner
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During the First World
War he commanded a company at Chateau-Thierny. Commanded a battalion and was
engaged in most of the battles where Americans were involved. He remained in the military and acquired a thorough knowledge of
airships. He commanded airship schools in
Langley, Va. and at Scott Field, III. He flew
in four National and International air races.
While in command of the 9th Bombardment
Sqdn. at March Field, CA he completed flying school as an Army Air Corps pilot in
1932. In 1934, he served as pilot and commander of the stratosphere flight "Explorer I" attaining an altitude of 61,000 ft. before
the balloon ripped open, and he had to parachute from a minimum altitidue of 300 ft.
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Earl Lehman Kielgass
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Class 43-K pilot training (Williams AAB, Chandler, Arizona). P-47 RTU at Dover, Delaware. Joined 9th Air Force and
368th Ftr.Gp. at A-3 on Normandy Beach. Stayed with 396th Fighter Squadron (Thunderbums) till end of European war with bases at A-3,
Chartres, Laon Athies, Chievre (Belgium),
Rheims, Metz, Frankfurt AM, and Nuremburg. Spent some time flying P-51's with
Arizona National Guard. Recalled as regular
in 1947 with First Fighter Wing March
Field, California. Flew out of Frankfurt on
the Berlin Airlift in 1949 then spent several
years in Air Training Command training
pilots (T-6, T-28, T-33, B-25 etc.)
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Frank N. King
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After
combat, transferred to 27th Air Transport
Group, Belfast, Ireland. Flew new aircraft to
combat bases, including P-47, P-51, P-38,
B-26, A-26, B-24, B-17, and C-47. Flew
troops and cargo in ETO. Flew spotter cub to
Paris. from Scotland. Toured Paris prior to
troops entering. Returned to States October 1,1944. Assigned P-47 combat instructor at
Richmond, Va.
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Claiborne (Clay) Holmes Kinnard, Jr.
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WWII FIGHTER ACE!
Clay Kinnard graduated with a BSCE at Vanderbilt University and joined the USAAF before WWII. He graduated from flight school in August, 1939 and served with various squadrons until going to war with the 356th FG in August, 1943. He transferred to 354FS/355FG as Squadron CO in November 1943, but was off ops with a severe ear infection until February, 1944.
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Peter W. Klaassen
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He graduated with Class 44A at Eagle Pass, Texas and after fighter transition training was assigned to the
78th Fighter Group, 83rd Sqdn. at Duxford
England, flying a total of 355 combat hours
in P-47's and P-51 's.
Returning to the United States after the
war, he worked at reactivating the 127th
Fighter Interceptor Group, Michigan Air
National Guard, becoming that unit's first
Post-War Commander. He continued engineering studies and flew with the Air Guard
until 1960, at which time he became a
manufacturing engineer with Teer-Wickwire
& Company, a large automotive parts manufacturer in Jackson, Michigan.
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Walter Joseph Koraleski
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WWII FIGHTER ACE!
Korky Koraleski attended University of Detroit majoring in Aero Engineering before enlisting in Army November, 1941. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant following graduation from Foster Field flight school in May, 1942. He was assigned to the 50th FG which became 355th FG and sailed with the Group in July, 1943. By the time he reached the ETO he had nearly 600 hours total time. He shot down his first 109 on the Big B Berlin mission March 6, 1944. and his fifth on April 5, 1944 to become the 354FS first ace and the 355th FG’s third air ace behind Olson and Stewart. Captain Koraleski, then 354FS Operations Officer, lost an engine on the 15th of April and bailed out over Utrecht following a flak barrage to become a POW.
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Harry E. Krig
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Returned to the US in May 1945, total of 72
combat missions in P-47's. Destroyed four
enemy aircraft (2 air, 2 ground). Awarded
DFC, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 4 oak leaf
clusters, distinguished unit emblem.
I remained in service with tours in Training Command and Tactical Air Command.
Flew F-51's, F-80's, F-84's, F-86's and F-100 Aircraft.
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Charles H. Kruger
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Trained with group and went
to England with Group on U.S.S. Thurston in
September 1943. Landed in Glasgow, Scotland. Went directly to East Wretham (S.W . of Norwich) and established the 359th Fighter
Group (368,369 and 370 F.S.) 8th Air
Force. Made our debut in combat on 13 December 1943 equipped with P-47 D-6. E.
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