Wake Island Pilot: A World War II Memoir (Memories of War)

by James M. McCaffrey, John F. McKinney, John F. Kinney

Book Overview

Wake Island Pilot is the story of John F. Kinney - hero, POW escapee, and aviation pioneer. It contains the first full-length account of a successful escape by a Marine captured in one of the great... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157488736X
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: POTOMAC BOOKS
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.6" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

A heroe's story, and an excellent researcher's resource too!

In any story one reads about Wake Island, Lt. Kinney is always mentioned as a key player. It is interesting to piece the Wake saga together with the individual stories and anecdotes of the men like Kinney who were there. The story Kinney tells is a humble one, considering the events he has seen and endured. He is the original "MacGuyver," fixing equipment not only at Wake, but also throughout his career. Kinney's story is like walking through nearly every chapter of military aviation history. Few can ever say they flew in everything from Curtiss Jennys to early Vietnam era jets. A great read for Wake Island, WWII, aviation and Korean War enthusiasts alike.

Excellent! Against all odds he survived, mind over matter!

The first two chapters were a warm up for the real guts and glory! I have never met the author but just reading his book made me proud to be an American. Using the genious approach to cannibalizing parts to fly planes that had no chance of surviving against such great odds is overwhelming. My advise is to buy the book and read, start to finish!