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)
The Early Years - Army Air Forces - Post Ploesti
Post Ploesti
(2 Aug 1943 - Present)
On 2 Aug 1943, the first of the Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)s are prepared.
Probably in 1943, the 389th Bomb Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for their Ploesti Raid on 1 Aug 1943.
Probably in 1943, all the crew members of the Ole Kickapoo were awarded Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Hearts.
On 23 Sep 1943, a newspaper article about Pete was published entitled Lieutenant Hughes 'One of Great War Heroes,' General Writes Mother.
On 20 Nov 1943, a newspaper article mentioning Pete was published entitled 16 Texas Soldiers Killed in Action.
On 21 Nov 1943, a newspaper article mentioning Pete was published entitled S. A. Officer War Casualty.
On 26 Feb 1944, Pete was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. United States Army and Statement of Military Service.)
On 4 Mar 1944, a newspaper article announced that the war department had awarded Pete the Medal of Honor.
On 5 Mar 1944, a newspaper article about Pete was published entitled Honor Medal Awarded San Antonian.
On 6 Mar 1944, a newspaper article about Pete was published entitled Congressional Medal Given Flier's Widow.
On 7 Mar 1944, a newspaper article about Pete was published entitled Hughes was First Aggie to Win Medal of Honor.
On 8 Mar 1944, a newspaper article about Pete was published entitled L. H. Hughes First Aggie to Get Award.
On 15 Apr 1944, a newspaper article about Pete was published entitled Date Set for Awarding Hughes’ Medal of Honor.
On 18 Apr 1944, the Medal of Honor was presented to Pete's widow, Hazel Dean EWING Hughes.
On 19 Apr 1944, four newspaper articles were published: 1) Nation’s Highest Decoration Given, 2) Highest Medal Awarded to Pilot's Widow, 3) Top Medal Goes to Ploesti Raid Hero and 4) Air Hero Wins Highest Award Posthumously. They described that the Medal of Honor was presented to Pete's widow, Hazel Dean EWING Hughes.
Probably in Mar 1944, K. Wilbur created the artwork on this document which includes Pete's photograph and the text from his citation.
Sometime in 1944, the U.S. Army Air Forces published "The Official Guide to the Army Air Forces, A Directory, Almanac and Chronicle of Achievement."
On 2 Jun 1944, a newspaper article entitled Bond Rally Set at Kelly was published listing Hazel Dean EWING Hughes as an honored guest.
On 4 Jun 1944, a newspaper article entitled Kelly Field 'Gets Jump' On War Bonds was published listing Hazel Dean EWING Hughes as an honored guest.
Sometime in 1945, the Nueces County Veterans published General George Marshall’s Victory Report.
On 24 Jun 1945, a newspaper article entitled "Texas Leads All States in Number of Men Awarded Medal of Honor" was published listing Pete and 17 other Texan recipients of the Medal of Honor.
On 11 Nov 1945, a newspaper article entitled "29 Texans Win Medal of Honor" was published listing Pete and other Medal of Honor recipients from Texas. Full page spread of photos included on Page 20.
On 21 Apr 1946, a newspaper article entitled 'Roll Call for the Absent' and 'Silver Taps' Will Honor Heroic Dead at Aggieland Muster was published listing Pete and other Aggie recipients of the Medal of Honor.
On 22 Apr 1946, two newspaper articles were published: 1) 'Ike' Warns that America To Need ROTC in Future, 2) Gen. 'Ike' Honors Aggie Fighting Men and 3) Reserve Officers Are Praised at A&M Gathering. They describe the Aggie's Easter Memorial Muster.
On 31 Mar 1950, a newspaper notice entitled Lloyd H. Hughes was published stating that reburial services for Pete were planned for 12 Apr 1950 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA.
On 12 Apr 1950, Pete's remains were reburied in Plot 53, Section U, Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA. (source: Department of Veterans Affairs and Burial Record)
On 21 Apr 1951, Texas A&M dedicated its Memorial Student Center with memorials to Pete and other Aggie Medal of Honor recipients.
On 25 Mar 1952, an obituary entitled Mrs. J. R. Jordan, Sr. was published about the death of Mildred Mae RAINEY Hughes Jordan. She died in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas at the age of 50 and is buried in Seaside Memorial Park, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas.
On 30 Jun 1954, Bryan Air Force Base in Bryan, Texas issued General Orders Number 12 redesignating Third Street to Hughes Street in honor of Pete.
On 27 Jul 1954, Bryan Air Force Base in Bryan, Texas wrote a letter announcing the renaming of Third Street to Hughes Street in honor of Pete
On 29 May 1959, The United States Air Force released Pete's Statement of Military Service.
On 15 Feb 1962, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona wrote a letter seeking approval to name a building in Pete's honor.
On 5 Feb 1964, Williams Air Force Base in Arizona dedicated "Hughes Hall" in honor of Pete. (sources: Letter #1, Letter #2, Letter #3, Photo)
On 27 Nov 1964, a newspaper article entitled 3 Area Men Members Of Very Select Group was published about Pete and several other Medal of Honor recipients.
On 24 Jul 1968, a newspaper article entitled A&M Names Halls After South Texas Heroes of WWII was published about Pete and another Medal of Honor recipient.
On 20 Jan 1969, an obituary entitled Mrs. Robert C. Stubblefield was published about the death of Hazel Dean EWING Hughes Stubblefield. She died in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas at the age of 45 and is buried in San Geronimo Cemetery, Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas.
On 1 Mar 1969, Texas A&M University renamed a dormitory "Lloyd H. Hughes Hall" in honor of Pete. (source: Letter #1, Letter #2, Photo)
On 2 Mar 1969, two newspaper articles were published: 1) A&M Renames 6 Dormitories For Its Heroes and 2) A&M Dormitories Given New Names. They describe the dormitories being renamed in honor of Pete and the other Aggie Medal of Honor recipients.
On 4 Mar 1969, a newspaper article entitled A&M Renames Dorms For Medal Winners was published about Pete and other Aggie Medal of Honor recipients.
On 23 Oct 1985, a painting of Pete was dedicated in his honor and hung in the 564th Missile Squadron (previously the 564th Bombardment Squadron) Operations Room, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, USA.
On 27 Feb 1993, a Medal of Honor Commemoration and Unveiling ceremony was held at the Corps of Cadets Center at Texas A&M University, in College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Seven large bronze plaques were dedicated, one for each of the seven Aggie Medal of Honor recipients.
Before 29 Jul 1995, a newspaper article was published describing that there would be a Medal of Honor recipient honored by Del Mar College.
On 29 Jul 1995, the unveiling of the Wall of Honor occurred at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA.
On 28 May 1999, the Medal of Honor Memorial was dedicated in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA. Pete's name is included.
On 31 May 1999, the Medal of Honor Monument was dedicated in Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA. Pete's name is included.
On 5 Nov 1999, the Medal of Honor Memorial was dedicated in the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA. Pete's name is included.
In 2003, a book entitled South Texas Heroes was published with Pete's photo dominating the cover.
In 2005, because of deterioration, a new grave marker was requested by Pete's wingman's son, Philip. Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery replaced the old grave marker with a new one. (Thank you Philip.)
In late 2006, Pete’s Medal of Honor was donated to the Refugio County Museum, 102 West Street, Refugio, Refugio County, Texas, USA. (Refugio County Museum sign) (source: family sources)
In Nov 2006, an article was published about the naming of streets on Lackland Air Force Base. One of the streets, Hughes Avenue, was named in Pete's honor.
On 31 May 2007, a newspaper article entitled Remembering Pete Hughes and his band of brothers was published about Pete.
On 11 Apr 2008, Pete's Medal of Honor was donated to the Corps of Cadets Center at Texas A&M University.
On 24 May 2008, I toured the Corps of Cadets Center and saw the exhibit that was set up displaying Pete's Medal of Honor along with other memorabilia.
On 30 May 2008, a newspaper article was published entitled "Remembering Those Who Served."
Unknown date: "World War II" - "Congressional Medal of Honor Winners" lists Lloyd H. Hughes.
On 15 Jan 2009, an article was published online entitled Story of ‘Pete’ Hughes will be included in A&M book.
On 25 Mar 2009, an article was published entitled Aggie Medal Of Honor Recipient 2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes ’43 To Be Honored on Mar. 30.
On 30 Mar 2009, a Medal of Honor Ceremony was held to formally present Pete's Medal of Honor to the Corps of Cadets Center at Texas A&M University. (Source: Personally attended.)
On 30 May 2009, Harold L. James, Col, USAF (Ret) graciously gave Pete's family a couple of pages out of James's Autobiography. James had trained with Pete stateside and there are several references to specific dates.
On 31 Mar 2009, an article was published entitled Aggie's legacy lives on.
On 1 Apr 2009, an article was published entitled Medal of Honor Ceremony for 2nd Lt. "Pete" Hughes'43. Includes a video of the ceremony. Twenty family members of Uncle Pete's were in attendance.
On 8 Apr 2009, an article was published entitled A&M welcomes WWII hero's Medal of Honor.
In 2010, a Medal of Honor display was dedicated to Uncle Pete and other Medal of Honor recipients. It is located in Airman's Hall, 4th Floor The Pentagon.
On 30 Jun 2011, Received photos of the Medal of Honor display in the Pentagon from Susan J. Linders. Thank you Susan!
In Aug 2010, a new book was published about Uncle Pete and other Medal of Honor recipients entitled Texas Aggie Medals of Honor - Seven Heroes of World War II by James R. Woodall.
On 13 Nov 2010, Pete was inducted into the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame & Museum in Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, USA. (Sources: Ceremonies note sacrifice and heroism and photographs)
11 Oct 2011, I drove to Waco, McLennan County, Texas and picked up John Riley Kane's Medal of Honor from the Letterman Room at Baylor University's Floyd Casey Stadium. Then I drove to College Station, Brazos County, Texas and picked up Lloyd Herbert Hughes' Medal of Honor from the Corps of Cadets Center on the Texas A&M University's campus. Being responsible for these two pieces of history made me pretty nervous for the next 15 days.
17-21 Oct 2011, the 98th Bombardment Group Veterans Association hosted a "Ploesti Raiders" reunion in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. It was opened to any airman related to the Ploesti Raids, whether flight crew or ground crew. (Sources: Personal experience and Barksdale honors Ploesti Raiders)
18 Oct 2011, we drove to Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana to attend the Ploesti Raiders Reunion taking the Medals of Honor with us. We returned home on 22 Oct 2011.
26 Oct 2011, I drove back to Waco then College Station to return both Medals of Honor.
The Early Years - Army Air Forces - Post Ploesti
First published: August 1, 2006
Last updated: November 21, 2011
