Flying Officer William Ivan Holmes (416205) served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War Two. Born on 30th October 1921, he was the son of William John Holmes and Margaret Ellen Holmes. He was the husband of Marion E Holmes of Pukekohe East, Auckland, New Zealand.
Holmes served as a pilot in RAF No. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit. He died on 19th March 1945 aged 23 years old on board Consolidated Liberator KG896. The plane took off from RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim on a low-altitude radar exercise on a moving target on Lough Neagh.
During the flight, the crew made several radio transmissions indicating everything was in order. At 0218hrs on 19th March 1945, the control tower at RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim picked up the final communication from KG896. Only 2 minutes later, the plane crashed into high ground 900 feet above sea-level at Tornagrough. The crash site was approximately 6 miles west of Belfast, Co. Antrim. All members of the crew died in the incident.
Remembering the crew of Liberator KG896
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes | William Ivan | Flying Officer | Pilot (Pupil) | RNZAF 416205. Killed. |
| Pryde | Alan James | Flying Officer | 2nd Pilot (Pupil) | RAAF 436583. Killed. |
| Sargent | Stanley Frederick Bright | Flying Officer | Navigator (Pupil) | RAFVR 165074. Killed. |
| Appleyard | Richard Henry | Flying Officer | Navigator (Pupil) | RCAF J/42507. Killed. |
| Honey | Cecil Andrew James | Flying Officer | Navigator | RAFVR 174869. Killed. |
| Cheyne | William David | Flying Officer | Wireless Operator (Pupil) | RAFVR 157532. Killed. |
| McNeilly | Patrick | Sergeant | Wireless Operator (Pupil) | RAFVR 1522944. Killed. |
| Hook | Rolinson Sidney Palliser | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (Pupil) | RAFVR 1603654. Killed. |
| Bates | Dennis Archibald | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (Pupil) | RAFVR 1868033. Killed. |
| Edge | Ronald James | Sergeant | Flight Engineer (Pupil) | RAFVR 1895861. Killed. |
| Aston | Oliver | Sergeant | Air Gunner (Pupil) | RAFVR 1880856. Killed. |
William Ivan Holmes’ grave is in Section E, Grave 24 of Eglantine Church of Ireland, Lisburn, Co. Antrim.