Medal of Honor: Lloyd Herbert “Pete” Hughes – World War II, August 1st 1944

 LLOYD HERBERT “PETE” HUGHES

Rank: Second Lieutenant
Unit: 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force
Conflict: World War II
Date of Action: August 1, 1943
Location: Ploesti, Romania
Operation: TIDAL WAVE
Award: Medal of Honor (Posthumous)

Summary of Action:

At just 22 years old, Lt. Lloyd “Pete” Hughes took the controls of his B-24 Liberator and pointed its nose toward hell.

The target: Ploesti, Romania. Hitler’s prize—the fortress of oil that fueled the Nazi war machine. And the Americans were coming to burn it to the ground.

Launching from bases in Libya, Operation TIDAL WAVE would be the most daring, low-level daylight bombing mission of the war. Over 170 B-24s would fly beneath radar, skimming treetops at 200 feet, threading through mountain passes and enemy territory to strike the heart of Germany’s fuel supply. It was a bold gamble—and Hughes was part of the final wave, the last formation to punch through.

By the time Hughes reached Ploesti, the sky was already on fire.

The German defenders were fully alert. Barrage balloons hung like steel mines in the sky. Flak erupted in every direction. Fires from earlier bomb runs lit the refineries like a furnace, black smoke towering above the rooftops.

As Hughes closed on the target at near rooftop level, his aircraft was shredded by enemy fire. Large-caliber rounds ripped through the fuselage, punching holes in the wings, rupturing fuel lines, and sending streams of gasoline spewing from both the bomb bay and left wing.

He had a choice.

He could peel away and belly land in the fields surrounding Ploesti, like other damaged crews had already done—saving his men and sparing the aircraft.

But he didn’t.

Instead, Hughes stayed in formation.

With both engines trailing flammable fuel and flames leaping from the refinery ahead, he made his decision: he would finish the mission—even if it killed him.

Plunging through the inferno, flying a leaking gas can into a volcano, Hughes released his bombs with pinpoint accuracy—hitting his target squarely. His aircraft cleared the blast zone, but now the left wing was burning, the fire racing uncontrollably.

Only after his bombs were away did Hughes attempt a landing. He found a flat spot and brought the Liberator down with nerves of steel—but the fire had already taken too great a toll. The plane crashed and exploded, engulfing the crew.

Second Lieutenant Lloyd H. Hughes gave his life for the mission. But his courage, precision, and refusal to abandon the fight ensured the strike hit home.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for a decision few men would make: to fly into certain death for the success of the mission—and the lives of others.

Medal of Honor Citation:

“With full knowledge of the consequences of entering this blazing inferno when his airplane was profusely leaking gasoline... he did not elect to make a forced landing or turn back... After successfully bombing the objective... the plane crashed and was consumed. By 2d Lt. Hughes’ heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the consequences... he has rendered a service to our country... which will everlastingly be outstanding in the annals of our Nation’s history.”

Would you like a Facebook post version next, with hashtags and shortened copy for engagement? Or should I continue with the next name in the Ploesti trilogy—Addison E. Baker?