Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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25.09.1940 No 152 Squadron Spitfire N3173 Sgt. Kenneth Holland

Operation: Scramble

Date: 25th September 1940 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 152 Squadron

Type: Spitfire I

Serial: N3173

Code: UM-?

Base: RAF Warmwell, Dorset.

Location: Church Farm, Woolverton, Somerset.

Pilot: Sgt. Kenneth Christopher Holland 754503 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

A large formation of 58 He III’s sent to bomb the Bristol Aircraft Factory works, escorted by some 40 long range BF110’s.

152 squadron scrambled to intercept. Sgt. Holland attacked a He III and hit his target. Seeing a parachute leave the aircraft he continued his attack, only to be hit by the rear gunner. Both aircraft crashed in the fields of Church Farm at 12:00 hrs. Sgt. Holland had been hit in head and killed during the return fire from the Luftwaffe gunner.

On interrogation later the pilot of the Heinkel, Hptm. Brandt informed the officers that the first burst from Sgt. Holland had already crippled the aircraft and that there was no need to go in for a second burst.

Also lost from 152 Squadron on this operation:

Spitfire P9463 Flown by Sgt. William Gerald Silver 563391 RAF, shot down off Portsmouth at 11:55 hrs.

Photograph of the memorial placed at the Church of St Materiana, Tintagel, Cornwall kindly taken by Mike Berrell for Aircrew Remembered July 2015.

Burial details:

Sgt. Kenneth Christopher Holland. Weymouth Crematorium. Son of Harold George and Ina Gladys Christopher Holland understood to be of 11 King Street, Bondi, Sydney, Australia, ward of Major. ‘Toby’ Hugh Ivor Emmott Ripley, of Camelford, Cornwall, England. Also his girlfriend and future wife, Seina Haydon, 

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Mike Berrell for memorial photograph and other sources quoted below. Rob at the 152 Hyderabad Squadron has a fine website where the full story can be read as well as many others.

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