Robert T. "Bob" Holmes was born 23 December 1925 in Stroudsburg PA, the son of Robert W. and Emma F. Holmes. He grew up in Trenton NJ and joined the US Navy's V-5 Flight Training program on 7 December, 1943. He went to Drew University in Madison NJ to begin the V-5 Program. Upon completion of this phase he went to Shreveport LA then to St. Mary's College in California for Pre-Flight training. Completing Pre-Flight in December
1945 he went to Glenview Illinois for Primary Flight training and soloed on 18 February
1946 in the Navy's N2S "Yellow Peril".
He went to Corpus Christi TX in May 1946 for Intermediate Training in the SNJ, then to Pensacola, Florida for formation, instruments, gunnery and carrier qualification in the SNJ. He then went through training in the PBY "Catalina"; upon completion of flight training he was awarded his commission and wings on 21 March 1947.
He next went to Jacksonville Florida for training in the SB2C and upon completion received orders to Air Group 4 in Norfolk VA. He was in Squadron VA-4B flying the new AD-1 "Skyraider". The Air Group went on various cruises aboard the carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Caribbean and Mediterranean. The Air Group later went on similar cruises aboard the USS Midway.
In mid 1950 he went back to Pensacola as a flight instructor. This was followed by orders to VR-31 in Norfolk VA, then in 1955 to Navy Line School in Monterey California. Upon completion there he went back to the east coast to George Washington University in the Navy's five term program.
This was followed by a tour in the Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington DC then to the LTA (Lighter Than Air) program in Glynco GA. The LTA program was terminated so his next orders were to Patuxent River to a WV squadron, flying the "Willie Victor" Constellations. His squadron, VW-2, was decommissioned later and he went to VR-1 which was also at the NAS Patuxent River MD.
Completing his tour at VR-1 he was ordered to the NAF at Andrews AFB flying the Convair C-131.
When his aviation career was concluded Bob had flown approximately 35 different types of aircraft and logged over 4800 hours of flight tine. His carrier landings were in the SNJ, the SB2C, the AD-1, and the AM-1 Martin "Mauler", He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in July 1967.