Spitfire tribute to WWII hero Ernie Holmes seen in the sky above Perth

Wings from World Conflict II made a dramatic flypast over Perth on Wednesday, July 20.

A Spitfire and a Hurricane bomber swooped over the town centre in honour of Ft Lt Ernie Holmes DFC in a tribute to the 100-year-old hero pilot who died in Perth in October final 12 months.

The climate was good, with nice visibility for crowds close to the River Tay to see the 2 classic plane carry out a memorable flying show.

They got here in up the river initially, turned and began the present.

Flying in shut formation, they did three passes and on the final move over Perth they separated and banked over to indicate the silhouette of the planes.

Perth writer and flying historical past fanatic Ken Bruce mentioned: “This was a very spectacular show. Many round me commented they'd by no means seen a Spitfire or a Hurricane flying earlier than, solely on the bottom.”

The Spitfire and a Hurricane plane within the skies over Perth (Picture: Perthshire Advertiser)

Having fun with the sight of the planes over Perth, many got here out to pay tribute to the legendary wartime pilot who volunteered to affix the RAF aged solely 19 and went on to coach others at Scone and Errol airports and even saved pupils from a burning airplane wreck.

Tay Avenue was lined with effectively over 200 folks, from the George Lodge proper all the way down to the railway bridge. There have been extra on the North Inch.

Current to see the tribute to their war-decorated father Ernie was David Holmes and his sister Alison.

Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson, Perth and Kinross Council Bailie Chris Ahern and Captain (RNLN) Gerrit Nijenhuis , Netherlands Defence and Naval Attache to the UK and Eire, who introduced Ernie Holmes along with his Dutch Liberators medal (Picture: Perthshire Advertiser)

Air Vice-Marshall Ross Paterson CB OBE ADC BSc PGCE FCIPD RAFR, the Air Officer Scotland, was watching beside them with the Lord Lieutenants of Fife, the Dutch Army Attaché and Group Captain Montgomery RAF (retired).

Armed forces and veterans champion for Perth, Bailie Chris Ahern together with Provost Xander McDade and a number of other officers from Perth and Kinross Council joined the throngs admiring the flypast placed on by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Ernie Holmes was aged 97 when he went on an emotional journey abroad to fulfill the households who helped hold him protected after his airplane was gunned down in Holland (Picture: Perthshire Advertiser)

Ernie’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren had been current afterwards at a memorial service at St John’s Episcopal Church in Princes Avenue which was attended by many on-line.

The most recent great-grandchild to be named after Ernie was born on Tuesday.

Descendents of Fons Van der Heijden, the person who hid Ernie after his airplane was shot down in Holland, had been additionally within the church.

Two eulogies got, one by son David Holmes and one other by former flying pupil, Air Lingus captain Don Foley. Each mentioned how proud they had been to share Ernie’s outstanding story.

The Holmes household expressed thanks for the assist proven for Ernie who fought bravely as an elite ‘Pathfinder’ Lancaster bomber pilot and endured time in Stalag Luft III PoW camp throughout the coldest winter on report.