Walter Tom Holmes Jr (1919 - 2009)

Born 4 Feb 1919 in Higgins, Lipscomb, Texas, United States

Died 25 May 2009 at age 90 in Jasper, Jasper, Texas, United States

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Biography

Walter Holmes Jr was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States).

Walter Holmes Jr was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Walter Holmes Jr was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom).

Walter Holmes Jr was awarded the Air Medal.

Walter Holmes Jr was awarded the Purple Heart.

Walter Holmes Jr was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel Walter Holmes Jr served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 23 Feb 1942
Unit(s): 68th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 24 Jan 1946

Walter was born 4 February 1919 in Higgins, Texas. He was the son of Walter Holmes and Clara Gassaway.^[1]

Walter was the pilot of the B-24 Liberator bomber, Wing and a Prayer - #41-24211-U, participating in Operation Tidal Wave the low-level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the mission.

He passed away 25 May 2009 in Denton, Texas

• Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Walter Tom Holmes, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving at Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber with the 68th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), in the European Theater of Operations on 1 August 1943, while serving as the squadron's Operations Officer in aerial combat operations over the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Rumania. Captain Holmes piloted a lead aircraft in a formation of B-24 type aircraft that attacked a highly important oil refinery at extremely low altitude. Because of the nature of the target, it was imperative the lead pilot follow an exact course to and over the target. Some fifteen miles before reaching the objective, Captain Holmes' aircraft was subjected to heavy point blank anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. Knowing that evasive action would disrupt the close flying formation, Captain Holmes, thinking only of the complete destruction of his separate target ahead, and with complete disregard for personal risk of life, kept fast to the course, leading his formation through fire and smoke straight over the target. His courageous determination and exceptional piloting skill resulted in the successful and full destruction of his target. Captain Holmes' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, the 44th Bombardment Group, and the United States Army.^[2]

Find A Grave: Memorial #37638282

• 1920 - Justice Precinct 4, Duval, Texas, United States.^[3]
• 1930 - Higgins, Lipscomb, Texas, United States.^[4]
• 1940 - Justice Precinct 1, Denton, Texas, United States.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2VC-HQ4 : 1 March 2021), Walter Tom Holmes, 04 Feb 1919; citing Higgins, Lipscomb, Texas, United States, certificate 8240, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,136.
2. ↑ The Hall of Valor Project - Walter Tom Holmes
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9S-JG6 : 3 February 2021), Walter Holmes in entry for Thomas Holmes, 1920.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H6NR-CN2 : accessed 26 November 2021), Walter T Holmes Jr. in household of Walter T Holmes, Higgins, Lipscomb, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 6, sheet 4B, line 96, family 111, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2369; FHL microfilm 2,342,103.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWJT-7XY : 10 January 2021), Walter T Holmes in household of Tom Holmes, Justice Precinct 1, Denton, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61-4, sheet 4A, line 15, family 101, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4020.

• National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 712>. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Ancestry Record 2238 #21364459
• 14 Texas Air Cadets to Get Wings Soon, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, 21 Feb 1942, Sat • Page 16
• Two Texans Get Purple Heart, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, 18 Dec 1942, Fri • Page 29
• Walter Tom Holmes to get DFC Award for Saving Plane, The Whitewright Sun, Whitewright, Texas, 07 Jan 1943, Thu • Page 5
• The Whitewright Sun, Whitewright, Texas, 04 Nov 1943, Thu • Page 1
• Major Walter T Holmes, Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, 05 Jan 1944, Wed • Page 4
• Shell Bursts in Cockpit, Pilot Lives to Tell Story, Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, 28 Dec 1943, Tue • Page 2
• Eight Ball Pilot Home on Leave, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, 06 Oct 1944, Fri • Page 8
• Air Force honors pilot for World War II exploit, The Times, Shreveport, Louisiana, 03 Feb 2009, Tue • Page 8
• Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ancestry Record 2441 #8612454
• Wing and a prayer, Published Feb. 4, 2009, By Tech Sgt. M. Erick Reynolds, 8th Air Force Public Affairs