Flt Lt Ernie Holmes, DFC
 

Ernie Holmes celebrates his 100th birthday today, January 29th. He remains in remarkably good health and may be the only surviving flight-crew member of the Pathfinders.

A Lancaster captain with 35 Sqn - based at Graveley, south of Huntingdon - Ernie Holmes embarked on his 30th Pathfinder mission on the night of 22nd May, 1944. After successfully bombing a target at Dortmund, ND762 was returning by a different route at 18000 ft when it was attacked over Holland by an unseen night fighter from underneath. Following severe damage to the No. 3 engine, there was a large explosion and Ernie lost control of the aircraft as it started to break up. The Lancaster crashed between Middlebeers and Vessem in Holland at about 0129Z on 23rd May.

Of the crew of eight, only three parachuted to the ground alive, one of whom - wireless operator Frank Tudor - was seriously injured and had to give himself up. Ernie was on the run for several weeks and eventually reunited with his bombardier, Derrick Coleman. They had each been bravely assisted by a series of members of the Dutch resistance towards the Belgian border but were betrayed together on 17th June and handed over to the Gestapo at Antwerp. That led to imprisonment in Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Poland.

The Russian advance led to the camp being evacuated in January 1945 and a forced march westwards in freezing conditions for many days, followed by a train journey, to a camp at Tarmstedt, near Bremen. In the April, however, the Anglo-American advance resulted in another march, this time eastwards, again crossing the River Elbe. He and Coleman were finally released near Lubeck in May 1945 and repatriated to England. Ernie resumed flying with Transport Command and remained in the RAF for many years.

Further details and information on 35 Sqn and the memorial to the five crewmen who died can be found here:
https://35squadron.wordpress.com/201...d762-22051944/

EDIT
Details specific to Ernie's 35 Sqn sorties and crew members here:
https://35squadron.wordpress.com/2019/11/13/holmes-e/

Contrary to para.2 above, Ernie's last operational sortie on which he was shot down was his 22nd (not 30th) with 35 Sqn, including Halifax sorties before 35 Sqn re-equipped with Lancasters.

Happy Birthday and may you have many more.

Congratulations Sir, and we spare a thought for your Comrades-in-Arms who I'm sure, would join in the celebration. With thanks for what you - and they - did. :ok:

From a mere "Cold War Warrior"! :\

When I served on 35 Sqn some 40-ish years ago, we had the wartime F540s available to read in the crewroom.

A real eye opener!

My very best wishes to you, Ernie, on the occasion of your 100th birthday today!

UNO ANIMO AGIMUS!!

His name is Ernie, and he flew the fastest Lancaster in the West! Thirty times. Quite a man.

CG

A video of Ernie's virtual, pre-birthday celebration yesterday evening, hosted by East Scotland University Air Sqn (Leuchars), with special guest AVM Ross Paterson and an audience on Teams of about 250:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euU_...ature=youtu.be

Six UAS students deliver an excellent presentation covering Ernie's flying career.

Many congratulations Ernie. The day you landed in Holland by parachute was the day I was born. I feel very humble.

Many congratulations from Oz Ernie, we dips our lid. A youthful looking hundred I must say.

Yes indeed, megan. Sad to say, many students who flew with Ernie - including some at Scone in the late 1960s - are no longer in a position to congratulate him.

[EDIT]
Anyone lacking the spare time to browse the video (see Post #6 above) might like to have a look at this comprehensive account of Ernie's life, which includes links to media reports over the last few years:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...12246905521161

Sadly, Ernie passed away on 14 October. RIP.

Nice write-up:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/lo...pilot-25359808

RIP. Blue skies. Sad that it took a while to be notified here.

Blue skies Ernie. That ESUAS YouTube is very well done, and most moving. Great that the stories and heritage have passed to the current generation.