William Ivan HOLMES

William Ivan HOLMES. Flying Officer Pilot (Pupil) 416205 Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to RAF No. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Son of William John and Margaret Ellen Holmes, nee Carmichael of Pukekohe East Auckland New Zealand. Husband of Marion Ellen Holmes nee Carmichael of Pukekohe East, formerly of 726 Roxberry Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio. USA
He was Captain and part of a crew of eleven in a Liberator KG896 of Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim which took of from RAF Aldergove, County Antrim 19 March 1945 on a non-operation night radar homing training exercise on a moving target in Lough Neagh.
During the exercise he flew into high ground killing all members of the crew at 02.20 hrs. He was aged 23 years.

The funeral took place at Eglantine Church, County Down on Friday 23 March at 2-30 pm. Five members of the crew were buried together. Full service honours were accorded and the cortege consisted of and Escort, a Bearer Party and Mourners from the station (RAF Aldergrove). A trumpeter played the Last Post and Reveille after the service which was conducted by Squadron Leader, the Reverend E.G.Parke, Station Chaplain assisted by the Reverend R Black of Antrim.

His service records on line only relate to his death. His actual service records appear not to be available.

The court of Inquiry Report gave experience of the Pilot prior to this flight.
Trained at No 4 (EFTS) Elementary Flying Training School RCAF Whenuapai. No 4 SFTS, Service Training School RCAF Saskatoon. (OTU) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Greenwood, Nova Scotia. (AFU) Advance Flying Unit at RAF Kidlington, Oxfordshire. No 1519 B.A.T. Beam Approach Training Flight, RAF Feltwell, Norfolk. No 111 (OTU) Operational Training Unit RAF Nassau, Bahamas, British West Indies and 1674 (HCU) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Aldergrove

The following are extracts are from the service record of Richard Henry APPLEYARD. Flying Officer Navigator (Pupil) RCAF J/42507. Killed

Report from the Court of Inquiry into the accident.

“Crew were detailed for Radar Exercise on a moving target in centre of Lough Neagh Northern Ireland. During this flight several R/T (radio transmission) conversations took place between the aircraft and Flying Control and between the aircraft and No.1 A.P.C. (Armament
Practice Camp) Control concerning the conduct of the exercise which appeared perfectly satisfactory. Also, the Duty Commander spoke to the Pilot by R/T during the exercise and discussed the weather. The pupil Captain stated that the weather was very satisfactory. At 02.18 the aircraft flew into high ground 900’ above sea level south-east of Aldergrove apparently on a course that would have taken him straight into the aerodrome. The wreckage gave every indication that the aircraft was in normal straight and level flight when it struck rising ground. The point of impact was approximately 10 miles from the target used in the exercise.
An examination of the wreckage and site of the crash indicates that the aircraft was flying level with all engines under power.
The duration of flight since last take off, 2 hours 10 minutes.

Conclusions of the inquiry

(a) F/O Holmes and crew were detailed to fly in Liberator a/c (aircraft) (KG.896) to carry out local radar and (L/L) Leigh Light homing exercise on moving target in Lough Neagh. The crew were instructed to make runs over the launch from north to south while the launch was travelling on easterly and westerly headings. A number of successful homings were made on the launch, but as a homing was made on the fixed radar target in error, the coxswain of the launch decided to alter course towards the centre of the Lough and upon reaching this approximate position to steer a course of 645 (degrees) M. The next homing was made by the aircraft, the approach being east to west, the aircraft then made a final homing from north-west to south-east. The aircraft passed directly over the launch and continued in a south-easterly direction. The aircraft appeared to turn to port and the navigation lights disappeared to be immediately followed by two orange flashes. It was later confirmed the A/C had crashed into the ground 900-ft high in the vicinity of Tornagrough (Town land near Hannastown Co Antrim) 6 miles from Belfast. The a/c crashed in straight and level flight into rising ground, disintegrating, part of the wreckage catching fire. Al members of the crew were killed instantaneously. Immediately prior to the crash the A/C was in W/T communications with Aldergrove H/F D/F.

(b) (i) Failure on the part of the Captain F/O HOLMES, to appreciate the position and course of his A/C (aircraft)
(ii) Non-compliance with instructions to fly North and South homing runs on the launch.

An examination of the wreckage and site of the crash indicates that the aircraft (a/c) was flying level with all engines under power.

Report from Wing Commander W.H. Ingle Chief Instructor at 1674 H.C.U. Aldergrove. Dated 19 March 1945 which can be seen in the service record of F/O R.H. Appleyard, RCAF

The Pilot had received one briefing from me, a complete Station-brief, two lectures by Flying Control and at least seven other briefings by Duty Commanders, during all of which the safety height was repeatedly stressed. He had completed 5 weeks of a 6 weeks’ course during which through instructions is given on the use of every modern navigational aid. The remaining Captains of his course have been consulted and they state that they have this question of high ground briefing emphasised repeatedly in every briefing ad nauseum. This aircraft was completely operationally equipped and was fitted with a least 5 devices that could be used to avoid flying at 200’ on dark nights are liable to lead to this type of accident, but is suggested that this Unit could not possibly take more precautions than it already had done. The only reasonable inference is that this accident was solely dur to criminal stupidity on the part of the Captain.

The crew members of KG896 were:

Richard Henry APPLEYARD. Flying Officer Navigator (Pupil) RCAF J/42507. Killed.
Aston Oliver ASTON. Sergeant Air Gunner (Pupil) RAFVR 1880856. Killed.
Dennis Archibald BATES. Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (Pupil) RAFVR 1868033. Killed.
William David CHEYNE. Flying Officer Wireless Operator (Pupil) RAFVR 157532. Killed.
Ronald James EDGE. Sergeant Flight Engineer (Pupil) RAFVR 1895861. Killed.
Cecil Andrew James HONEY. Flying Officer Navigator RAFVR 174869. Killed.
Rolinson Sidney Palliser HOOK. Sergeant Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Pupil) RAFVR 1603654. Killed.
Neilly Patrick McNEILLY. Sergeant Wireless Operator (Pupil) RAFVR 1522944. Killed.
William Ivan HOLMES. Flying Officer Pilot (Pupil) 416205 Royal New Zealand Air
Stanley Frederick Bright SARGENT. Flying Officer/Navigator 165075 RAFVR killed.


Leigh Light (L.L.) In short it was two 22-million candlepower, 24-inch searchlight one under each wing as a visual aid to spot enemy (ie submarines) on the surface during contact with the enemy.


From 1936 to the late 1950s Lough Neagh became one of the most important air gunnery and bombing schools in the province.