The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Distinguished Flying Cross. Privately engraved reverse with recipient's details and date of death.
405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoomba before his enlistment in the RAAF on 20 June 1941. He qualified as a pilot and flew Lancasters for 460 Squadron. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 25 January 1945. Holmes was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross, on 1 March 1946. The citation reads, 'As a pilot Squadron Leader HOLMES has completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty'. Holmes was involved in many of the huge night bombing raids on industrial and civilian targets in Germany, including Dresden and Chemnitz. On 5-6 March 1945 twenty one Lancasters from 460 Squadron were involved in a 1,100 bomber raid on the Chemnitz Armaments Works, which proved to be Holmes' last. Flying Lancaster PB557 Holmes and his crew died when their damaged aircraft made a forced landing near the village of Prieffe and its bomb load exploded. Their resting place was marked by the Germans with a large wooden cross bearing the words 'Here lie eight English flyers killed in a crash on 5 March 1945.
1939-45 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoomba be
Australia Service Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasse
Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoom
France and Germany Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in T
FLYING LOG BOOK OF SQN LDR HOLMES DETAILING TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND AND FLIGHTS OVER CHEMNITZ AND GERMANY, ALSO OFFICIAL LETTERS RELATING TO HIS DEATH OVER FRANCE AND AWARD OF THE DISTINGUIS
Octagonal aluminium identity disc with a hole at each end. The obverse is engraved, '405797 HOLMES J. C RAAF CE'. The reverse is engraved, 'O' and the numeral '4' in a circle. This identity disc
Studio portrait of 405792 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) John Cecil Holmes, pilot of No. 460 Squadron, RAAF, of Brisbane, Qld. Flt Lt Holmes, a woolclasser in civilian life, was born on 2 September 1921 a
The original grave of eight airmen of No. 460 Squadron RAAF killed on a raid on Chemnitz, Germany on 5 March 1945. The grave is marked by a large block of wood carved into an Iron Cross shape with the
Probably Binbrook, England. c. 1944. Informal group portrait of four officers of a crew of 460 Squadron in a country lane holding two bicycles. From left to right Tom Holst, rear gunner; Jack Gray, b
Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoom
1939-45 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in Toowoomba be
Australia Service Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser
France and Germany Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasser in T
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 405792 Squadron Leader John Cecil Holmes, served in 460 Squadron, RAAF. Born in Brisbane in 1921, he worked as a woolclasse
Octagonal aluminium identity disc with a hole at each end. The obverse is engraved, '405797 HOLMES J. C RAAF CE'. The reverse is engraved, 'O' and the numeral '4' in a circle. This identity disc