Besby Holmes

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]

Besby Holmes
Born	(1917-12-05)December 5, 1917[1] San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	July 23, 2006(2006-07-23) (aged 88) Greenbrae, California, U.S.
Buried	Golden Gate National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	USAAC / USAAF / USAF
Years of service	1941–1968
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Cross × 3 Air Medal
Alma mater	City College of San Francisco

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]