Major McKennon, was born 30 November 1919 in Clarksville, Arkansas, but grew up and was educated in Fort Smith. He earned a four-year music scholarship to the University of Arkansas. After a month in college he switched course and deserted the classics for the campus swing band. In his fourth year, in February 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. He was sent to Hicks Field in Fort Worth, Texas, where he trained in Stearman PT-17s, but washed out two months later due to extreme motion sickness.

Not to be denied in his ambition to fly, a month later he enlisted in the RCAF. After some admin' type duties, he finally was assigned to primary training, where he flew Fleet Finch biplanes. He went on to gain his Pilot Wings in just four months rather than the usual ten to twelve months normally expected.

On 21 March 1942 he arrived in England. Later that month he reported to an advanced pilot training unit, where he trained on Miles Masters and Hawker Hurricanes. He entered an Operational Training Unit in April to train in Spitfires. In May, while flying a Spit', he performed a low-level beat up of his former training unit and returned to base, where he was immediately arrested and locked up. At the end of June he was found guilty of unauthorised aerobatics, reduced in rank, and stripped of his wings.

For whatever reason, the authorities relented, and Mac was given a second chance, to be closely monitored for the following four months. On 14 October he won back his wings and was restored to his former rank of Sergeant Pilot.

In November 1942, after one year and seven months in the RCAF/RAF, he was granted an honorable discharge to join the USAAF, and recommended as an above average pilot. He became a second Lieutenant and spent three months learning to fly the P-47 Thunderbolt. He was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group, 335th Squadron in February 1943 - at last, where he wanted to be, a fighter pilot. He christened his plane "Ridge Runner", his nose art being an Arkansas razorback hog. Also, with his musical background, he would often play "Boogie Woogie" piano in the Officers' Mess.

Although he was an exceptionally good pilot, this did not prevent him being shot down twice by flak, and being seriously wounded on a third occasion.

While strafing trains in August 1944 he was shot down. He evaded and was picked up by the French Maquis, who helped him return to England a month later.

Six months later, leading his Group, preparing to strafe Neubrandenberg Airfield filled with parked aircraft, again his plane was hit. He had no choice but to bale out about five miles from the airfield, landing near his crashed plane. The Group watched and repelled German soldiers attempting to capture him. Then, Lt. George Green proceeded to land his P-51 Mustang, dispose his parachute and dinghy, and then pick up McKennon. With Green sitting on his lap at the controls, they took off and headed for home. Arriving back at Debden, the tower operator was astounded to hear their request for landing instructions for two!

Again strafing Rosenheim-Gahlingen Airfield on 16 April 1945, McKennon was hit by an explosive shell in the cockpit, wounding his head and neck and causing profuse bleeding. He managed to land at a forward base, where they bandaged his wounds and advised him not to fly back to Debden. He ignored the advice, leading his squadron home and completing, for him, his last combat mission.



After 560 combat hours, being shot down and evading twice, scoring 21-plus victories, and being Squadron CO for eight months; having been washed-out of US Flight Training, losing his RCAF wings by court Martial, and regaining them, his luck ran out.



On 18 June 1947 he was killed in a tragic flying accident involving an AT-6D near San Antonio, Texas.



Pierce had 21.68 enemy aircraft to his credit, and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, and the French Croix de Guerre.