World War II Honoree

Kenneth Bonner Wolfe

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Lieutenant General. In 1940 he became chief of the B-29 Special Project Staff and had charge of the initial flight and service testing of the B-29 Superfortress for the Army Air Force. In June 1943 he became commanding general of the 58th Bombardment wing at Salina, Kansas. Later, the 20th Bomber Command was organized, trained, and moved to India for its initial strikes against Japan from bases in western China. On June 15, 1944, he directed the first B-29 strike against Japan, which was staged from secret bases in western China. He joined the Fifth Air Force on Okinawa in August 1945, as chief of staff and became commanding general. He directed its transition from a mighty assault force to the occupational air arm of Japan and southern Korea.