900th Identified Flyer - Jack Marsh Holmes

The 900th Greenville Flyer to be identified is Captain Jack Marsh Holmes. Capt Holmes was born 22 Sep 1915 to Clarence Henry Holmes and Julia Katherine (Marsh) Holnes in Nunda, New York. The youngest of three children, Jack answered the call of the 15th draft board of Southern Livingston County, New York, on 24 Jul 1941.

While the locations where Holmes attended Primary and Advanced Flying Training are unknown, he completed Basic Flying Training at Greenville Army Flying School in May 1942. Following completion of flying training, Holmes went on to fly the Consolidated B-24 Liberator.

In Aug 1943, 1st Lt Holmes commanded his B-24, the "Tokyo Express", during the third assault of the Bombing of Wewak, New Guinea. During the mission, Staff Sgt Allen Hadley of Huntington, IN, shot down a twin engine Japanese fighter. This was the fifteenth enemy fighter aircraft shot down by the "Tokyo Express".

Third Wewak Assault Bags 24 More Japanese Aircraft Sat, Aug 21, 1943 – Page 7 · Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, Indiana) · Newspapers.com

After accumulating 200 hours of operational flight time in the Pacific Theater, Capt Holmes was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for demonstrating "outstanding ability, courage, and devotion to duty."  The award was presented by Lt Gen George C. Kenney, commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific.

Nunda Flyer Honored for Daring Feats Tue, Dec 28, 1943 – Page 22 · Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Newspapers.com

Captain Jack Marsh Holmes passed away on 26 Oct 2001 and is interred at the Oakwood Cemetery, Nunda, NY.

Obituary for Jack M. Holmes, 1915-2001 Sun, Oct 28, 2001 – Page 26 · Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Newspapers.com