Lancaster bomber pilot and Perth hero Ernie Holmes is to be remembered in July with a dramatic double flypast.
On July 20, two WW2 Spitfires will home in on Perth as a mark of respect for Ernie, who died last October aged 100.
In 1941, Ft Lt Holmes came to Scone Aerodrome as part of his RAF training. It was there that he met Irene Spinks, a local girl who would become his wife of 71 years.
He was already a bomber pilot when he volunteered to be a Pathfinder, directing bomber squadrons to their selected targets in Germany thereby reducing the collateral damage previously caused by inaccurate bombing.
The Pathfinders were essential to the success of Bomber Command.
Ernie’s service was recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
Later he was also made a member of the French Légion d’Honneur and his service to Holland recognised by the Netherlands government.
Ernie’s Pathfinder days ended in the early hours of May 22, 1944 when his plane was shot down over the south of Holland.
Only three of the eight-man crew survived. He was found, sheltered then set off on an escape route helped by brave members of the local resistance but later betrayed on his journey through Belgium.
This led to internment in Stalag Luft III, the prisoner of war camp, where he remained until the infamous forced march through Germany. He reached Lübeck from where he was put on an RAF repatriation flight. He was still only 23.
Ernie returned to Perth to marry Irene in 1946. He later went on to instruct the students of St Andrews and Glasgow University Air Squadrons until his retirement from the RAF.
Thereafter he continued flying, working as a flying instructor for Airwork Services Training, again at Scone.
Ernie never forgot the family in Netersel who had sheltered him.
The Holmes family went to Holland to meet with them, the van der Heijdens, in 2018.
It was near where his Lancaster crashed that he unveiled a memorial to his crew, erected by the local community.
In January 2021 Ernie celebrated his 100th birthday at Kincarrathie Care Home in Perth where he and Irene both spent their latter years. A personal letter from Prince Charles and a mention in the Scottish Parliament marked the event.
Last year, shortly before he died, a new building at RAF Leuchars, belonging to the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron (ESUAS), was named the ‘Ernie Holmes Building’ in his honour.
Now this summer, on July 20, two Spitfires will further honour him by taking off from Leuchars at 2.30pm and flying the eight minutes along the Tay to Perth where a flypast will centre on Tay Street.
A thanksgiving service for Ernie’s life will then be held at St John’s Episcopal Church.
Chief Air Officer for Scotland Air Vice Marshal Ross Paterson, CB, OBE, ADC, DL will be in Perth for the celebration event with students from ESUAS Squadron.
The Military Attaché of the Netherlands will also be present together with the Lord Lieutenant of Fife.
