RAF’s lasting testament to hero pilot Ernie
Squadron HQ named after WW2 veteran
An inspiring WW2 veteran living in Perth who was held captive in the POW camp made famous in The Great Escape has seen an RAF headquarters named after him.
The milestone comes after flight lieutenant Ernie Holmes celebrated his 100th birthday this year on January 29.
As COVID restrictions prevented in person celebrations at Kincarrathie Care Home, recorded messages were displayed and a virtual presentation of Ernie’s life was held.
The East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron (ESUAS) decided to further honour Ernie by naming their old St Andrews University Air Squadron headquarters at Leuchars Station ‘The Ernie Holmes Building’.
The squadron invited Ernie to the station on September 22 for the official opening and naming ceremony.
The simple ceremony was attended by some 30 guests including Ernie’s son Dr David Holmes; Air Officer Scotland, Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson, and the Lord Lieutenant of Fife, Robert Balfour.
Air Vice-Marshal Paterson said: “As COVID restrictions prevented us from meeting physically for Flt Lt Holmes 100th birthday, it is wonderful that we can gather at Leuchars to pay our compliments in person to Ernie, and to join ESUAS in celebrating their HQ building being given the name ‘ The Ernie Holmes Building’ – a lasting testament to an exceptional gentleman and aviator.”
Ernie Holmes was a Lancaster bomber pilot on a pathfinder bomber squadron. After numerous hazardous missions his aircraft was shot down in 1944.
He survived - although five of his crew did not - and he was hidden by a Dutch farmer before being betrayed and captured on the escape route to Spain.
He was then held as a prisoner of war and interrogated in Stalag Luft 3 in Poland - depicted in The Great Escape - towards the end of the war.
He also survived two of the infamous ‘Long Marches’ of POWs.
After the war Ernie served on both Edinburgh and Glasgow University Air Squadrons and retired from the RAF in 1962.
ESUAS squadron commander, squadron leader Campbell Blake, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to honour Flt Lt Ernie Holmes DFC by naming our squadron headquarters after him.
“His fortitude and heroism are an inspiration to us all and in particular to my students.
“They have thoroughly enjoyed researching Ernie’s life and telling his story over the past year to a wide audience.”
Project officer, Flight Lieutenant Paul Cunningham, the chief flying instructor for the squadron, said: “This has been a whole year’s project by a dedicated team of eight UAS officer cadets capturing the inspiring stories from this Lancaster pilot RAF veteran and it was fantastic to meet Ernie in the flesh.
“It was a delight that several of his friends and, in particular, group captain Alastair ‘Monty’ Montgomery OBE (RAF retired) and one of Ernie’s former students John Harvey could attend.
“A second honour was to see Ernie receive his Dutch Liberators’ Thank You Medal from the Netherlands Air and Naval Attaché, Captain Gerrit Nijenhuis.
“A great, memorable day indeed.”
His fortitude and heroism are an inspiration to us all