Holmes, Russell Neal (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Action 1942-December-16
Birth Date: 1921-October-19
Born: Roundup, Musselshell County, Montana, USA
Parents: Son of Fred Manford Holmes (deceased when Russell enlisted) and Myrtle (nee Shields) Holmes, of Marwayne, Alberta
Spouse:
Home: Marwayne, Alberta
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
15 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Aim Sure
Base
RAF Bourne
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/16538
Prev: R/86687
Marwayne, Alberta
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Stirling R9168
Mission
Stirling Mk. l R9168
Bombing Diepholz Germany 1942-December-15 to 1942-December-16
15 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Bourne
#15 Squadron RAF (Aim Sure) RAF Bourne. Stirling I aircraft R9168 LS-T, on an operation to bomb the airfield at Diepholz, Germany, was repeatedly hit by flak before being intercepted by the night fighter crew of Leutnant Werner Rapp & Unteroffizier Hans Ortmann of 7/NJG 1 and shot down. The Stirling crashed into woods East of Gortel near Epe, Netherlands
Pilot Officer Emerson Harvey Kieswetter (RCAF), Pilot Officer Russell Neal Holmes (RCAF) , Pilot Officer Hugh Ernest Hill (RCAF)(USA), Pilot Officer Frank Severne Millen (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant Grantley Charles George Hutton (RAF) and Sergeant Robert Hugh McKillop (RNZAF) were all killed in action
Sergeant James Frederick Perring (RAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
The Last Flight of T for Tommy by Harry Bouwman
Aviation Safety NetworkStirling R9168 Mk. l - Bombing Diepholz Germany - 1942-12-15 to 1942-12-16
Squadron: 15 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1942-12-15
Completion Date: 1942-12-16
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Diepholz Germany
Target Specific: Aerodrome
Base: RAF Bourne
Take Off Time: 17:25
Squadron Code: LS-T
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Netherlands
Crash Specifics: Gortel, Gelderland
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flakfighter
Flak Battery: unspecified
Enemy Claim: Leutnant Werner Rapp & Unteroffizier Hans Ortmann of the 7/NJG 1
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
#15 Squadron RAF (Aim Sure) RAF Bourne. Stirling I aircraft R9168 LS-T, on an operation to bomb the airfield at Diepholz, Germany, was repeatedly hit by flak before being intercepted by the night fighter crew of Leutnant Werner Rapp & Unteroffizier Hans Ortmann of 7/NJG 1 and shot down. The Stirling crashed into woods East of Gortel near Epe, Netherlands
Pilot Officer Emerson Harvey Kieswetter (RCAF), Pilot Officer Russell Neal Holmes (RCAF) , Pilot Officer Hugh Ernest Hill (RCAF)(USA), Pilot Officer Frank Severne Millen (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant Grantley Charles George Hutton (RAF) and Sergeant Robert Hugh McKillop (RNZAF) were all killed in action
Sergeant James Frederick Perring (RAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
The Last Flight of T for Tommy by Harry Bouwman