Hoyle Majors was born in 1923 in Tennessee, the son of Maynard Lester Majors and May Brook. He volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps at age 20. He was inducted on November 19, 1940. He attended Christenberry School and was a member of the Baptist Church. He was a bomber in the North African Campaign. He was Killed in Action on October 28, 1942. Officially declared dead on 29 October 1943. He is memorialized in North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia
376th Bomber Group, 515th Bomber Squadron
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, June 8, 1942
Hoyle E. Majors, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Majors, 223 Bearden Place, after returning to camp from a visit with his parents, found a promotion to sergeant awaiting him. He is 19 and has been in the Army for 18 months, stationed at Barksdale Field, La. While in the hospital recently, he wrote a poem, “To the Defenders of Bataan,” the last stanza of which follows.
“Look, the boys are fighting – they are not dead!
When the day of justice comes along
We’ll march thru Tokyo, singing a Yankee song!”
His brother, Sergt. P.V. Majors, has been in Iceland since January, Parnick, 21, has been in the Army for two and one-half years.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel November 5, 1942
Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Janors, felt re-assured and happy yesterday morning when they received a letter and Christmas card from their son, Staff Sergt. Hoyle E. Majors, a gunner in the Air Corps, stationed in the African front. Then at 11 last night, the parents received a telegram announcing their son has been “missing in action” since Oct. 29. The letter and Christmas card were dated Oct. 22.
Sergt. Majors, 20, is the second Knoxville air force member reported missing in the African area this week. Last Friday Staff Sergt. Clinton H. Johnson, Air Force radio operator was reported missing in Africa since Oct. 22. The two missing soldiers had “run into” each other in Egypt last Aug. 10, and Sergeant Majors had written to his mother about “finding a Knoxville boy” and having “a long talk with him.” In the letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Majors yesterday, their son had told them that he was “all right” and “hope to see you soon.”
On the front of the Christmas card was a scene of Jerusalem “inside the Jaffa Gate looking East.”Inside, real flowers from the Holy Land were pasted and beneath them was written “Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year.“
Sergeant Majors, a former Christenberry Junior High School student and Western Union messenger here, volunteered Nov. 19 two years ago. His brother, Staff Sgt. Parnick V. Majors, 22, is stationed in Iceland, and Dec. 7 will end his third year of service.
Aircraft B-17E departed from Maleme Airdrome at Crete on a bombing mission. 1st Lt John W. Kidd and his entire crew failed to return from a bombing mission in the Middle East Theatre on October 28, 1942. This mission was at night and of the several airplanes participating were in contact with each other. This fact eliminated the possibility of other airplanes observing the nature of the disappearing of this aircraft. The weather was bad in places and the ack-ack fire over the target was heavy and accurate. Other crews on the same mission reported seeing a light on the water near the island of Kase, off the north-east end of Crete. Rescue search in this area the next day showed no signs either of the plane or crew.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt John W. Kidd
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Martin Smith
2nd Lt Kenneth W. Baker
2nd Lt Bernard Silbowitz
S/Sgt Hoyle E. Majors
Sgt Raymond F. Weaver
Sgt Raul R. Venegas
Sgt William S. Glaab
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of death: 28 October 1943
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 376th Bomber Group, 515th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: North Africa
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Hoyle E. Majors
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