William Holden was an Canadian, flying with 7 squadron.

His crew consisted of:

Pilot Officer William Holden, Pilot
Sergeant Terrence W. Hunt, Air Bomber
Sergeant A. J. Phillips, Navigator
Sergeant Reginald W. Conuel, Engineer
Sergeant J. Avery, Wireless Operator
Sergeant Jack B. J. Hook, Mid Upper Gunner
Sergeant P.E.C. Flood, Rear Gunner

7 Sqn RAF

On the night of 4/5 May 1943, the crew was scheduled to fly an operation to Dortmund. They were one of the Pathfinder crews that would lead the main force. This operation was part of the 'Battle for the Ruhr', a period during which Bomber Command repeatedly attacked industrial targets in the Ruhr area.

Like so many nights, the German night fighter force is put on alert. It is around midnight when Major Helmut Lent, commander of IV/NJG1, intercepts the Stirling BK773 MG-T, captained by Canadian pilot P/O Holden. Lent maneuvers himself under the Stirling and shoots. The Stirling doesn't stand a chance and at 00.08 it crashes into the IJsselmeer, just south of Enkhuizen. The whole crew perished in the crash.

Four of the crews bodies are recovered. P/O William Holden and Sgt Terence Hunt are buried in Bergen General Cemetery. Sgt Reginald Conuel and Sgt Jack Hook are buried in Amsterdam. The three others are still missing and are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.

P/O Holden was 26.

Bergen, The Netherlands

See Also:
Sgt Terence Hunt
Sgt A. J. Phillips
Sgt Reginald  Conuel
Sgt J. Avery
Sgt Jack Hook
Sgt P.E.C. Flood

Sources:
Ab A. Jansen, Wespennest Leeuwarden, part II, Baarn 1976
Ab A. Jansen, Gevleugeld Verleden, Baarn
(1)Canada's Veterans Affairs website
CWGC
7 Squadron Association

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Bergen General Cemetery

Posted 10 August 2005

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This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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