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Author Topic: Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away  (Read 350 times)

Offline RTSigma

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« on: June 29, 2005, 01:00:51 AM »
Ever heard of the story of the British pilot during Battle of Britain who saw a Dornier with a course to bomb the Buckingham Palace? Ray Holmes, flew his Hurricane towards the offensive Dornier and rammed the tail end of it after he realized he had no ammunition.


He was 90 and died from his battle with cancer. A Giant to the shrinking numbers of quality WWII airmen like this.

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Offline Lazerus

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2005, 02:32:06 AM »
<S>
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Offline TrueKill

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2005, 02:42:51 AM »
wow just seen a show on the military ch. not to long ago where they dug up his planes engine from underneath a street.
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Offline beet1e

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2005, 03:00:09 AM »
RTS - yes, I saw him in a BBC interview 2-3 years ago. Amazing story.
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2005, 05:04:24 AM »
The best way for a true warrior to die, at 90 with his wife by his side.
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Offline Replicant

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2005, 06:09:44 AM »
 RIP


That the one where Time Team dug up his Hurricane at Victoria Station?
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Offline Curval

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2005, 07:40:26 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Replicant
 RIP


That the one where Time Team dug up his Hurricane at Victoria Station?


I think this one was really close to the hotel I stayed in when I was over last year.
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Offline Maverick

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #7 on: June 29, 2005, 07:55:33 AM »
Fair skies and tailwinds forever.
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Offline slimm50

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2005, 09:23:49 AM »
Once more, he has "slipped the surly bonds of earth".

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Offline Krusher

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2005, 10:18:40 AM »
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Offline Phaser11

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WW II British Fighter Pilot Died (AP)
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2005, 10:29:31 AM »
Ray Holmes

LONDON (AP) - Ray Holmes, a World War II fighter pilot who rammed a German plane to prevent a direct hit on Buckingham Palace, died Monday. He was 90.

He died at Hoylake Cottage Hospital in Wirral after a two-year battle with cancer, his wife, Anne, said Tuesday.

Sgt. Holmes spotted a German Dornier bomber lining up to attack the palace on Sept. 15, 1940, and, finding he had run out of ammunition, the pilot from 504 Squadron slammed into the bomber, slicing off its tail.

Holmes parachuted to safety, while his Hurricane plane crashed behind Victoria Station, well away from the palace.

The German bomber plunged into the station's courtyard. The German pilot also survived the incident, which was captured on film.

Last year, archaeologists unearthed parts of Holmes' fighter plane for a TV documentary. The plane's engine was later exhibited at the Imperial War Museum in London

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Offline Joc

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #11 on: June 29, 2005, 11:39:17 AM »
A brave chap indeed,
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Offline Furball

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #12 on: June 29, 2005, 12:41:28 PM »
:( :( :(
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Offline Nilsen

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #13 on: June 29, 2005, 12:45:35 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Replicant
 RIP


That the one where Time Team dug up his Hurricane at Victoria Station?


i saw that show and i belive it was.
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Offline Seagoon

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Pilot who saved Buckinham Palace Passes Away
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2005, 03:24:22 PM »
I commented on them digging up his engine a little while ago to my wife, my daughter (aged 4) piped up with "Why didn't they dig up his airplane"?

:D

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