The Early Years
(12 Jul 1921 -
27 Jan 1942)
Army Air Forces
(28 Jan 1942 -
1 Aug 1943)
Post Ploesti
(2 Aug 1943 -
Present)
Official MOH Citations:
2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes
(Lloyd "Pete" Herbert Hughes, Jr. - 12 Jul 1921 - 1 Aug 1943)
Source: United States. "The Official Guide to the Army Air Forces: AAF. A Directory, Almanac and Chronicle of Achievement." New York: Pocket Books Inc, 1944. Pages 326-327.
The Official Guide to the Army Air Forces
Brig. Gen. Leon W. Johnson; Col. John R. Kane; Maj. John J. Jerstad (reported missing in this action); 2nd. Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes (posthumous: killed in this action); Lt. Col. Addison E. Baker (reported missing in this action)
Aug. 1, 1943: Every man and every group that participated in the mission to Ploesti, Rumania, was cited for gallantry. Of all the feats of valor that day, 5 merited awarding of the nation's highest award:
. . .
Second Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes was in the last formation to hit the target. By the time he was ready to make his run, the Nazis had all their antiaircraft in action and the target was a seething mass of flames. Lt. Hughes came in low, dodged skillfully throught barrage balloons. Then ack-ack hit his plane. Sheets of gasoline streamed from the bomb bay and left wing.
Between Lt. Hughes' airplane and the target lay acres of table-top meadow. He had plenty of room and ample time to land safely. Be he chose to make the bombing run.
Into the flames he piloted his Liberator, gasoline washing from its sides. When the plane came out, the left wing was ablaze. Only then did he make an attempt to land; it was too late.
The airplane crashed and burned.
. . .
Note: Thanks to Barry Levine for mailing me this copy.
First published: June 07, 2008
Last updated: May 30, 2011
