Edward Blaine Kinzer | |
---|---|
Born | August 22, 1917 |
Died | May 8, 1942 | (aged 24)
Place of birth | Rock, West Virginia |
Place of death | Coral Sea |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Naval Reserve |
Years of service | 1941–1942 |
Rank | Ensign |
Unit | Scouting Squadron 5 |
Battles/wars |
World War II *Battle of the Coral Sea |
Awards | Navy Cross |
Edward B. Kinzer (1917–1942) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II.
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Edward Blaine Kinzer was born in Rock, West Virginia, on 22 August 1917. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 26 February 1941, was appointed Aviation Cadet on 3 April 1941, and was commissioned as an ensign on 20 October 1941. On 12 November 1941 he was assigned to Scouting Squadron 5 on board the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) as a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber pilot.
Considered an aggressive and skillful pilot, Kinzer flew with Scouting Squadron 5 in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. He contributed materially to the sinking or damaging of eight Japanese vessels in Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942 and the sinking of the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May 1942. On 8 May 1942, while piloting his dive bomber on anti-torpedo plane patrol during the battle, he died while fiercely engaging "the continued attack of enemy bombing and torpedo planes and their fighter support."[1]
Awards[]
Kinzer was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism and extreme disregard of his own personal safety during the Battle of Coral Sea.
Namesake[]
The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Kinzer (DE-232) was named for Ensign Kinzer. After she was launched in 1943, she was converted into the fast transport USS Kinzer (APD-91), and was in commission as such from 1944 to 1946.
Notes[]
- ↑ This quote, from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k4/kinzer.htm) is unattributed.
References[]
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links[]
- Edward B. Kinzer at Find a Grave
- Kinzer Family History
The original article can be found at Edward B. Kinzer and the edit history here.