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: Photos from Susan J. Linders. Received on 30 Jun 2011.
Medal of Honor Display at the Pentagon
Display is a part of Airman's Hall, 4th Floor The Pentagon; designed by Nick
Mosura and Tom Segars, HAF/IMMG (HQ Air Force/Media Services Graphics.)
Dedicated in 2010.
U.S.
Army Air Forces
Medal of Honor
World War II
Atlantic Theater
Uncle Pete's image is the one in the fifth column from the left.
Second
Lieutenant Lloyd Herbert Hughes - Lieutenant Hughes, a B-24 bomber pilot, flew
in the last formation to attack vital enemy oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania,
on August 1, 1943. The enemy was fiercely defending the fields, having been
alerted by previous bomber attacks. As he approached target, flak tore through
the bomb bay and left wing, causing a stream of fuel to pour from the aircraft.
Rather than land in the grain fields below and escape to safety, Hughes bravely
continued on to the target, which was ablaze with burning oil tanks and damaged
refinery installations. Flames leapt high above the bombing altitude of the
formation. Aware of the possibility that the escaping fuel would ignite, he
headed fearlessly into the flaming inferno and released bombs on the target. As
he flew off, the fuel ignited, and his left wing burst into flames. As he
attempted an emergency landing, the plane crashed and exploded, killing
Lieutenant Hughes.
First published: July 04, 2001
Last updated: July 06, 2011
