World War II Honoree

Barney McKinney Giles

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Mineola, Texas

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Served as the commanding general of the Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean Area and was in charge of planning the final B-29 Superfortress air attacks against Japan, including plans for dropping the atomic bombs. He witnessed Japan's surrender aboard the battleship Missouri. He then became commanding general of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific. In 1945 he was appointed honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI of the United Kingdom. President Chiang Kai-shek of China presented him the Order of the Cloud and Banner.