Ernest J. King vs George Kenney

King was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the US Fleet (COMINCH) in December 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was given authority over all naval operations in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

Under King's strategic direction, the US Navy decisively defeated the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway. The victory turned the tide in the Pacific War, destroying four Japanese aircraft carriers and shifting the strategic initiative to the Allies.

King was appointed Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in March 1942, combining the roles of COMINCH and CNO. He became the single most powerful naval officer in US history, directing all aspects of the Navy's war effort.

King was promoted to the newly created rank of Fleet Admiral (five-star rank) in December 1944. He was one of only four US naval officers to hold this rank during World War II.

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.