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British pilot who saved palace dies

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

He died Monday (June 27, 2005) 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.

Mr. Holmes, from Wirral in northwest England, parachuted to safety, while his Hurricane plane crashed at 400 mph 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.

"There was no time to weigh up the situation," Mr. Holmes recalled afterward. "His airplane looked so flimsy, I didn't think of it as solid and substantial. I just went on and hit it for six. I thought my aircraft would cut right through it, not allowing for the fact that his plane was as strong as mine!"

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

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said Queen Elizabeth II was "very sad to hear of the death of Ray Holmes, given his role in the valiant defense of London during World War II."

Mr. Holmes continued to fly throughout the war and taught Russian pilots to fly Hurricanes.

After the war he returned to Wirral, where he worked as a journalist.

Funeral details were not available.

[Last modified June 29, 2005, 01:20:05]