World War II United States Navy Aviator. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1933, was commissioned an ensign, and became a naval pilot. At the start of World War II, he was a lieutenant commander stationed at Navy Air Command at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Nicknamed "Killer Kane", he went on to command a fighter squadron from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, in the Pacific Theater of Operations. For his war service, he was designated an "ace" after shooting down a number of Japanese airplanes, receiving the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and promoted captain in January 1944. After war, he served in the Military Navy Training Section and was commanding officer of the USS Saipan. He was killed in a jet plane crash at age 45.
World War II United States Navy Aviator. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1933, was commissioned an ensign, and became a naval pilot. At the start of World War II, he was a lieutenant commander stationed at Navy Air Command at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Nicknamed "Killer Kane", he went on to command a fighter squadron from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, in the Pacific Theater of Operations. For his war service, he was designated an "ace" after shooting down a number of Japanese airplanes, receiving the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and promoted captain in January 1944. After war, he served in the Military Navy Training Section and was commanding officer of the USS Saipan. He was killed in a jet plane crash at age 45.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
William R. Kane
"Killer Kane"
Captain
United States Navy
June 5, 1911 Feb. 5, 1957
His Wife
Madeline
Aug. 12, 1912 Oct. 24, 2006
Advertisement
