Lloyd Herbert Hughes

He flew the leaking bomber through flames to bomb his target

Lloyd Herbert Hughes Jr., known as Pete, was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1921 and grew up in Texas. A student and athlete at Refugio High School, he later attended Corpus Christi Junior College and Texas A&M, where he studied petroleum engineering. He left college in 1941 to help his family.

He enlisted as an aviation cadet in January 1942. After pilot training he married Hazel Dean Ewing and received his wings. Assigned to the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, he went overseas in June 1943 and flew combat missions from North Africa.

On 1 August 1943 he piloted a B-24 during Operation Tidal Wave, the low-level attack on Romanian oil refineries. Anti-aircraft fire damaged his bomber before it reached the target. Fuel streamed from the aircraft, making the burning refinery area particularly dangerous.

Hughes continued the attack and released his bombs. Only after completing the run did he try to bring the burning bomber down. It crashed near Campina, killing him and most of his crew. His Medal of Honor recognised the decision to complete the mission despite the damage and fire.

His widow received the decoration at Kelly Field in April 1944. His remains were returned to Texas in 1950 and buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Texas A&M later named a residence hall for him and displayed his Medal of Honor in its Corps of Cadets museum.