Memorial

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T/Sgt Kinney enlisted in Columbus, Ohio on 2 April 1942. He was in his second year at Ohio State University, college of agriculture.

His father, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Frankfort, learned from pilots that his son, who was flight engineer was the only man in a plane who, by reason of the nature of his work all over the plane, could not be encumbered by wearing a parachute. A parachute hangs in the planes, he was told, for the flight engineer's use, if he had time to get into it.

Sgt Kinney was serving on the same plane of which he was assigned in January 1943 and on which he spent 10 months in continental United States waters, Canada, Alaska, Panama and South America in transport carrier work. From South America he went to Africa in December, 1943 and the next month he was in England. He was wounded in action over France on D-Day, was hospitalized in England for eight weeks and returned to duty in the latter part of August, 1944.

His father was a veteran of World War I and had been pastor at Frankfort since 1 October 1942.

The airplane's mission was towing gliders for Operation Varsity. It passed over the landng zone on the first approach but the gliders did not release. It circled over the autobahn for a second try. The gliders were released on this second attempt. The airplane was last seen flying northwest from the landingzone.

According to witness statements, at a certain moment the airplane was completely enveloped in flames but still under control at about 400 feet. One parachute was seen to come from airplane.

Four crew members were killed, one survived and was taken prisoner.