Besby Holmes

Besby Holmes
Born(1917-12-05)December 5, 1917[1]
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 2006(2006-07-23) (aged 88)
Greenbrae, California, U.S.
Buried
Golden Gate National Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Service / branchUSAAC / USAAF / USAF
Years of service1941–1968
RankLieutenant colonel
Battles / wars
Awards
Alma materCity College of San Francisco

Lieutenant Colonel Besby Frank Holmes (December 5, 1917 – July 23, 2006) was an American fighter pilot who in April 1943 took part in Operation Vengeance, a notable American wartime effort to kill Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who had planned the attack on Pearl Harbor. Holmes was awarded a Navy Cross for his role in the mission,[2] and later earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (with two oak leaf clusters) and an Air Medal.[3][4]

Holmes, a native of San Francisco, graduated from Balboa High School and City College of San Francisco. He enlisted in March 1941,[5] and was present in Pearl Harbor during the attack of December 7, 1941.[6] He remained in the military until 1968, also serving in the Korean War and Vietnam War.[2] He lived in San Rafael, California, following his retirement.[2] He was inducted by the Commemorative Air Force to the Combat Airman Hall of Fame in 2003.[6]

Holmes died of a stroke in 2006 at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California.[2] He was survived by his wife and four children.[2] He is interred at Golden Gate National Cemetery.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via fold3.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e Holley, Joe (July 27, 2006). "Besby Frank Holmes; WWII Fighter Pilot". The Washington Post – via washingtonpost.com.
  3. ^ "Ferry Pilot Gets Four Air Awards". Los Angeles Times. December 4, 1943. p. 15. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "McClellan Field Officer Helped Bag Yamamoto, Commander of Jap Fleet". The Roseville Press Tribune. Roseville, California. September 26, 1945. p. 4. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Index Record for Besby F Holmes | WWII Army Enlistment Records". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via fold3.com.
  6. ^ a b Koopman, John (July 27, 2006). "Besby Frank Holmes -- decorated WW II ace fighter pilot". sfgate.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "Index Record for Holmes, Besby Frank | U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved November 21, 2022 – via fold3.com.