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
William Ivan Holmes’ grave is in Section E, Grave 24 of Eglantine Church of Ireland, Lisburn, Co. Antrim.