John Cecil HOLMES DFC

John Cecil HOLMES DFC Update Details

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HOLMES, John Cecil

Service Number:	405792
Enlisted:	20 June 1941
Last Rank:	Squadron Leader
Last Unit:	No. 460 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 2 September 1921
Home Town:	Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Wool Classer
Died:	Flying Battle, Over Chemnitz Germany, 5 March 1945, aged 23 years
Cemetery:	Hanover War Cemetery Plot 4. Row G. Grave 11. Local Roll of Honour- Gladesville New South Wales, Australia
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Squadron Leader, 405792
20 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 405792, No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park
20 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 405792
11 Nov 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer
13 Jun 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 405792, No. 460 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45
7 Jul 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant
25 Feb 1945:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader
25 Feb 1945:	Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Awarded for displaying utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty in numerous operations over North West Europe

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Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

The home base of 460 Squadron was RAF Station Binbrook in Lincolnshire.

The pilot of the Lancaster aircraft was Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) John Cecil Holmes of Toowoomba, Qld. Flt Lt Holmes, a wool classer in civilian life. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 25 February 1945 and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for 'numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty'.

The members of the crew killed were:

405792 Flt Lt John Cecil Holmes, DFC RAAF, pilot
412815 Flt Lt Thomas Ernest Victor Morgan, DFM
RAAF, air gunner and gunnery leader of the squadron
409653 Flying Officer (FO) Ivan Sydney Baudinetta
RAAF, wireless operator, air gunner
408440 FO Donald George Hudspeth RAAF, navigator
430159 Flight Sergeant T.T. Clarke
RAAF, second pilot flying with the crew on operational experience
412167 Warrant Officer Alwyn (Elwyn?) Oswald Thomas Mayne RAAF, air gunner

Sgt J Young RAF, flight engineer
Sgt R. E. Hayward RAF, bomb aimer

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