Thomas L. Hayes Jr.

Thomas Lloyd Hayes Jr. (March 31, 1917 - July 24, 2008) was a United States Army Air Forces flying ace during the World War II. He accrued 8.5 victories in the war.

He retired from the United States Air Force in 1970 at the rank of brigadier general.

Early life Hayes was born on March 31, 1917, in Portland. His interest in aviation developed after he witnessed the arrival of a Soviet Tupolev ANT-25 piloted by Valery Chkalov at Pearson Army Airfield in Vancouver, Washington, while on its way to San Francisco during its 5200-mile journey from Moscow. Hayes saw the airplane and its crew, and had his picture taken next to the aircraft.

Military career Hayes attempted to become a naval aviator in the United States Navy, but was rejected due to his then young age and lack of college degree. He attended the University of Oregon until May 1940, after he found out that the United States Army Air Corps was accepting recruits of young age and with no college degree.

World War II Following his completion of flight training, Hayes was assigned to the 70th Pursuit Squadron of the 35th Pursuit Group at Hamilton Field in California in February 1941. Flying Curtiss P-36 Hawks, he served with the unit until December 1941, when he assigned as a P-40 Warhawk pilot with the 17th Pursuit Squadron of the 24th Pursuit Group in Java, Dutch East Indies and flew combat missions during the Dutch East Indies Campaign.

After recovering from his injuries from the crash landing, Hayes was transferred to the 35th Fighter Group in New Guinea in March 1942, where he served as a P-39 Airacobra pilot. On August 25, 1942, he flew a mission against the Japanese airfield in Buna. Despite heavy tropical rain and very limited visibility, Hayes led his flight in an attack run which destroyed eight to ten enemy planes on the ground, a gasoline dump and a heavy calibre machine gun position.

Hayes scored his third and fourth aerial victories on March 8 and 16 respectively. He became the first flying ace of the 357th FG on April 19, when he shot down a Bf 109 over Kassel, his fifth aerial victory. He returned to the United States in August 1944.

After his return of the United States, he served as the deputy training and operations officer, and later as the director of training and operations, air inspector, deputy base commander, and then assistant commandant of the 3028th Army Air Force Base Unit at Luke Field in Arizona from August 1944 to November 1946.

He died on July 24, 2008, at the age of 91 in Reston Hospital Center, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Aerial victory credits SOURCE: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations His awards include:

Silver Star citation

Hayes, Thomas L. First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces 35th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force Date of Action: August 25, 1942

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Thomas Lloyd Hayes, Jr., United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot of the 35th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force, in action over Buna, New Guinea, on 25 August 1942. Through a combination of heavy tropical rain and very limited visibility, Lieutenant Hayes skillfully piloted his P-400 type aircraft into position so that on the bombing run direct hits were scored and eight to ten enemy planes were destroyed on the ground, a gasoline dump went up in flames, and a heavy caliber machine gun position was silenced. This very successful raid was accomplished against the Japanese at Buna. It was the second trip over the mountainous and jungle terrain to the target area that day for Lieutenant Hayes. On the first flight adverse weather prevented the formation from locating the enemy. Courage and determination were displayed by Lieutenant Hayes in undertaking a second hazardous mission immediately after the first flight returned to home base.