World War II ace dies

[:FI:IceFrog]

McBiggles, I know your favorite plane is a P38, did you know

July 23, 2006
World War II ace dies in Marin County at age of 88

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) - A World War Two flying ace who played
a role in the shooting down of a key Japanese admiral has died.
Besby Holmes of San Rafael died Sunday at Marin General Hospital at the age of 88. His son in law says he died of a stroke. Holmes was one of the fighter pilots that attacked Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto while he flew over the Pacific in 1943. Yamamoto was the planner of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Two other pilots were credited with shooting down the admiral's plane, while Holmes and his co-pilot shot down four other planes escorting the admiral. Holmes served for 27 years in what was originally called the Army Air Corps, now the Air Force He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1968.
Besides World War Two, he also flew in the Korean and Vietnam wars. During his career, Holmes was awarded the Navy Cross, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit and the Air Medal.
http://www.legacy.com/MarinIJ/DeathNoti ... d=18685591" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Information from: Marin Independent Journal,
http://www.marinij.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-07-27-06 1134EDT

[:FI:Heloego]

And it won't be the last.

They'll all be gone all to soon.

[napier]

[:FI:Macca]

[:FI:Dr_Strangelove]

[Skipper]

[:FI:Snoop Baron]

[AltarBoy]

Here's to a good pilot. R.I.P. brother. A toast in your honour.