- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Brassey's Inc; First Edition edition (1 July 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1574880357
- ISBN-13: 978-1574880359
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,528,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Synopsis
Days after Pearl Harbour, the Japanese struck the small US garrison on Wake Island. As the primary maintenance officer when not in the air fighting the Japanese, young pilot John F. Kinney used all his ingenuity to oversee the cannibalization of crippled planes. His heroic effort helped enable the desperate Marine and Navy defenders to hold out for an incredible two weeks. After the island's inevitable surrender, Kinney was a Japanese prisoner in China for the next three-and-a-half years. During this time, he put his mechanical skills to work, creating numerous items to improve his fellow POW's situation, including, from scratch, a radio. Toward the end of the war, Kinney escaped from a prison train and, with the assistance of both Nationalist and Communist troops, made his way to an American airfield. He had a subsequent USMC career, flying fighters in the Korean War and developing the classic A4-D Skyhawk. James A. McCaffrey is the author of "This Band of Heroes: Granbury's Texas Brigade, CSA" and "Army of Manifest Destiny: The American Soldier in the Mexican War, 1846-1848".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book starts out slow moving, almost to the extent you want to skip the first couple of chapters since he talks about his boyhood and other events that are important to his life before the "main event" which is defending Wake Island from the Japanese. However, it is an autobriography, so stick with it. The account really picks up during the defense of Wake Island, his capture by the Japanese, and eventually his escape in China, all of which is fascinating can't-put-the-book-down sort of stuff. Kinney, the author, presents a very clear and exciting picture of what happened. All the questions you wanted to know about Japanese POW's - at least in this instance - and how you would escape in wartorn China, are answered. I recommend the book, but do read the first few chapters since they provide a setting for the era and military preparedness in the U.S. as it existed back then..
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Excellent! Against all odds he survived, mind over matter!
11 Mar 1999
Format:Hardcover
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!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A heroe's story, and an excellent researcher's resource too!
14 Oct 2006
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
Very Good
6 Dec 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well written, very interesting book. I have read several books on Wake Island, in most if not all you learn a little about John Kinney, but this book is his own story. From his pre Wake days to his escape from prison camp and later life. I highly reccomend reading this book. Not as detailed as most Wake books about events that occurred but mostly of what he himself witnessed and endured on Wake and as a POW. Without Kinney the defense of Wake would not have lasted nearly as long, he kept our planes in the air by his great mechanical skills. Truely a great American hero.
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