Wing and a prayer

Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, vice commander of 8th Air Force, shakes the hand of Mr. Walter T. Holmes after presenting him with the second-highest military award, the Distinguished Service Cross, Feb. 2. The DSC is awarded for gallentry and risk of life during combat while engaged with an armed enemy force, the gallentry must be of such a high degree that it is too high for any other military honor, but does not meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor. This award is being presented 65-years after Holmes and his fellow B-24 pilots performed low level bombing missions over the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania during World War II. Most of the pilots who flew that mission were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, while Holmes was given a Silver Star. After review by the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records his Silver Star was upgraded two days prior to his 90th birthday. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge)

PHOTO BY: Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge

VIRIN: 090203-F-3908K-013.JPG

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