George Kenney

Kenney commanded the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific under General Douglas MacArthur. He developed innovative air tactics, including skip bombing and low-level strafing, to attack Japanese shipping and ground forces.

Kenney pioneered the skip bombing technique, where bombers released bombs at low altitude to skip across the water into enemy ships. This tactic proved highly effective against Japanese shipping in the Bismarck Sea and elsewhere.

Kenney's air forces destroyed a Japanese convoy in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, sinking 12 ships and killing over 3,000 troops. The victory prevented Japanese reinforcements from reaching New Guinea.

Kenney's Fifth Air Force provided air support for the liberation of the Philippines, conducting strikes on Japanese airfields, shipping, and ground forces. His air campaign helped secure MacArthur's return to the islands.