Harold Percival Holmes was born on November 20, 1923 in California. He enlisted 5 Jan 1943 at Fresno, California. He had one year of college and was single without dependents. His occupation was listed as machinist. He served in the 27th Troop Carrier Squadron as a Technical Sergeant and Assistant Engineer on the C-47A aircraft. On 21 Mar 1944, the 27th Troop Carrier Squadron was assigned to the 14th Air Force, 69th Composite Wing, 443rd Troop Carrier Group, and based at Sylhet, India (now Bangladesh). On May 21 they moved to Changyi Airfield, Chang Yi, Yunnan, China.

T Sgt Holmes was on C-47A 42-118930 piloted by William B Williamson, Jr., last reported position near Mangshi, China, on 18 Aug 1944. He was declared "Missing in Action" on August 18, 1944 and is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov