Sgt. Ray T. Holmes, RAFVR

[Drew5233]

Ray Holmes was a Fighter Pilot during WW2 flying Hurricanes in The Battle of Britain serving with 504 Squadron based at Hendon. I had never heard of him or his story until today, like so many of the few.

At midday on Sunday 15th September 1940 (Ironically to be known later as Battle of Britain Day) Sgt. Holmes was flying over London and came across a Dornier Bomber with her port engine ablaze. Dornier Do.17Z from 1/KG76 which had taken off earlier that day from its base at Nivelles just south of Beauvais at 10.05hrs with 27 year old Oberleutnant Robert Zehbe at the controls.

One of her engines was not reaching full power and as a result of this several attacks had already been made on her due to the aircraft being some 500 yards behind the rest of the German formations heading for London. These attacks set her port engine ablaze and two crew members were seen to bail out over South London landing in the Sydenham and Dulwich areas.

With three crew left in the aircraft it was reported to be heading towards Buckingham Palace at 3,000ft. Holmes put his Hurricane in a head on run with the Dornier to avoid her defences. As he closed on her at some 400mph he squeezed the fire button on his stick to discover to his horror his guns were jammed. Flying past her and looping around Holmes decided to ram the aircraft by trying to cut her in half with his wing. He came in on the Dornier’s starboard and dipped his port wing and at 400mph cut through her tail section and the twin rudder section departed company with the rest of the aircraft.

Zehbe bailed out and although wounded landed in Kenninington near Vauxhall Bridge where he was badly beaten by a vicious crowd that tore all his kit from his body. He was rescued by local authorities but died several days later of his wounds and is buried in Brockwood Military Cemetery. The rear gunner, Gustav Hubel and the observer, Hans Goschenhofer never made it out of the aircraft and are both interned in Cannock Chase.

The main section of the German Bomber fell on the forecourt of Victoria Train Station destroying a jewellers shop but no one was killed and the tail section containing Gustav Hubel crashed in Fulham.

Holmes's aircraft was no longer flyable and he was forced to bail out and his aircraft as it plunged to earth. His aircraft crashed into Buckingham Palace Road, a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace itself.

Holmes could claimed several firsts that day including the only Allied aircraft to crash in central London during WW2 and just before attacking this Dornier he had lined up for a run on another German bomber that was fitted with a new secret weapon in the form of a flame thrower. At the time of the attack Holmes said he thought the oil was just leaking from the bomber and later found out it was a flame thrower and the oil/fuel had not ignited.
Holmes returned to 504 Squadron a hero but remarkably it doesn’t seem that Holmes was recognised for this amazing feat of bravery, by way of a citation. The incident was well documented within the British Propaganda machine. The whole incident amazingly was captured on film and much was made of the story.

Holmes continued to fly throughout the war in Hurricanes and Spitfires and finished the war flying as the Kings Messenger for the Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He left the RAF shortly after the war was over and he returned to his pre war career in journalism. In 1989 he published his autobiography called Sky Spy.

Now you may ask what drew me to this story that I for one had never heard before. Well I watched a programme today from the National Geographic Channel called "The Search for the Lost Fighter Plane". At it's end it showed a rather emotional 89 year old Ray Holmes with his family watching the remains on his Hurricane including its engine being successfully excavated from a hole in a London street at 2200hrs on 30th May 2004 to the worthy applause of onlookers and well wishers.

Sadly Ray Holmes died a little over a year later on 27th June 2005, aged 90, following a two year battle with Cancer.

Ray Holmes during WW2

Ray Holmes at the excavation

Some additional Info:

The Battle of Britain Campaign Diary - 15th September 1940

The Battle of Britain London Monument

If anyone has any additional info especially the film footage please post it below.

Regards
Andy

[Peter Clare]

RAYMOND TOWERS HOLMES
68730 Sgt Pilot British 504 Squadron

Holmes joined the RAFVR in February 1937 and began his flying training at 12 E&RFTS, Prestwick. He later flew at 7 E&RFTS, Desford and 17 E&RFTS, Barton. Called up at the outbreak of war, Holmes was posted to 4 ITW, Bexhill on October 29 1939. He went to 5 FTS, Sealand on December 9 and with training completed joined 504 Squadron at Wick on June 18 1940.

On September 15 1940 Holmes was involved in shooting down a Do 17 over central London. Probably the best-known German casualty in the Battle of Britain, the Dornier may have bombed Buckingham Palace and after Holmes had administered the coup de grace it broke up, a large section of wreckage falling on the forecourt of Victoria Station. Holmes aircraft was damaged by return fire and he baled out, unhurt, and landed in Hugh Street, Chelsea. His Hurricane, P 2725, crashed and burned out outside Fountain Court, Buckingham Palace Road.

Holmes was commissioned in June 1941. In late July 'A' Flight of 504 was re-numbered 81 Squadron and posted to Leconfield, where the personnel, Holmes included, were kitted out for an unknown destination. They flew to Abbotsinch in Harrows and embarked for Russia on the carrier HMS 'Argus', which carried crated Hurricanes. On September 1 the squadron flew off in sixes for Vaenga airfield, near Murmansk. Operations were flown until mid-November, when pilots of the squadron began converting Russian pilots on to Hurricanes. They left Russia on November 29, leaving all equipment behind and returned in HMS 'Kenya', landing at Rosyth on December 7 1941.

81 Squadron went to Turnhouse, where it received Spitfire Vbs. On March 1 1942 Holmes was posted to 2 FIS, Montrose for an instructor's course, after which he joined the staff at 5 (P) AFU at Tern Hill. He returned to 2 FIS on September 17 1942, as an instructor, and stayed with the unit until mid-November 1944.

After a short spell with 309 at Andrews Field in early 1945 Holmes joined 541 Squadron at Benson, a Spitfire photographic-reconnaissance unit. He became a King's Messenger for Winston Churchill, when he was preparing for the Potsdam Conference, flying mail between London and Biarritz, and Berlin and London when he was at Potsdam.

Holmes left the squadron at the end of August and was released from the RAF on October 4 1945, as a Flight Lieutenant.

'Men of the Battle of Britain' - Wynn.

[Recce_Mitch]

A very courageous act indeed. Should have been recognised.

Cheers
paul

[Smudger Jnr]

At the time it was said that the bombers target was Buckingham palace.

It was also the day that Churchill visited the operations room of 11 Group and asked Air Vice Marshal Kieth Park,

"What other fighters reserves have we available?"

Park replied,

"There are non"

Regards
Tom

[Drew5233]

The site about 60 minutes after Holmes's Hurricane crashed


The Dornier minus it's tail coming down on Victoria Station.


The tail section.


The main wreckage at Victoria Station.


Unfortunately I can't find any of the film footage.

[nicks]

I've found this clip of Ray Holmes talking about some of his experiences, he speaks 2:51 and 5:08.

YouTube - World At War: Alone 3 of 6

Nick

[Drew5233]

Well spotted Nick although not 'The' clip

[dbf]

The Times, 16 Sept 1940

[dbf]

The Times from 16 Sept 1940 - photos
17 Sept 1940 - see RAF Fighters' biggest day; think this is the same chap.

[nicks]

Originally Posted by Drew5233

Well spotted Nick although not 'The' clip

Andy

There's four seconds worth here from 3:34 of the Dornier spiralling down. Will that do as 'The' clip?

YouTube - WW II : RARE COLOR FILM : BATTLE FOR BRITAIN : PART 2 OF 3

I have to say that a lot of this film would appear to be b/w that has been coloured rather than being original colour film.

Nick