Sale WW2 

Geoffrey Vernon Holmes

Rank:Flying OfficerNumber:129368
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:432 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn RAFVR
Name of Rgt or Ship:Bomber Command
Died:14/01/1944Age:22
Country of burial:GermanyGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Hanover Cemetery
Town Memorial:Sale
Extra Information:
Attended Sale High School and Manchester Grammar School.   Employed by the
Yorkshire Insurance Co.   Member of AoM Cricket Club, Parkside Tennis Club
and played for the Old Mancunians Football Club.

Joined the RAF in 1941 and became a Navigator.    Had undertaken many ops
over enemy territory, including Berlin, Essen, Hamburg & Leipzig.

Flying with 432 Sqn, they took off at 1702hrs from R.A.F. East Moor,
Yorkshire, in a Lancaster Mk.II, No. DS740 QO-Z on a bombing operation to
Braunschweig.    They crashed at Lagershausen, 6 km  NE of Northeim -
aircraft exploded on impact with the ground.    Only the remains of two of
the crew could be identified, the 7 man crew were originally buried at
Lagershausen, but have since been re-buried at the Hannover Cem.  Three of
the crew were Canadians.

In a letter to fiance of one of the crew, the Padre of Lagershausen
Cemetery stated that following an attack by night fighter aircraft, the
bomber was set on fire.

Reported only as being 'missing' at the time of the raid, his parents had
been trying to trace what happened to him for three and a half years.

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