John R. Kane

John Kane was born in McGregor, Texas, in 1907, but his flying career ran through Shreveport. He joined the Army Air Corps there as an aviation cadet in June 1931 and later commanded Barksdale Field. On August 1, 1943, leading the 98th Bombardment Group against the Ploiesti refineries, he pressed on to the target when clouds split his formation. His B-24, Hail Columbia, lost an engine, took more than 20 hits, and crash-landed in Cyprus. The Louisiana Military Hall of Fame inducted him in 2010.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu — 1.1 mi
  A 6,000-square-foot museum of southwest Louisiana Carnival with about 275 costume mannequins and 14 animated figures, opened in April 2026.
• Imperial Calcasieu Museum — 1.4 mi
  Lake Charles's history museum, founded by the Junior League in 1963, with parish artifacts, Claire Chennault's uniform and the Sallier Oak.
• Sam Houston Jones State Park — 5.0 mi
  A 1,087-acre park on the West Fork of the Calcasieu with longleaf pine, cypress-tupelo swamp, five trails, cabins and kayak rentals.
• Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point — 9.4 mi
  A free visitor center at the western gateway of Louisiana's only All-American Road, with exhibits on alligators, migrating songbirds and the estuary.

More markers nearby

• Homer L. Wise — steps away
• Leroy Johnson — steps away
• Hulon Brooks Whittington — steps away
• Howard Gilmore — steps away