Donald Fraser Holder was born in Inglewood on 25 June 1922, the son of Albert William (1884-1961) and Leila Beatrice (nee Burrows) (1887-1965). He was one of seven siblings.
After his education at Central School and New Plymouth Boy's High School he began a plumbing apprenticeship and also played soccer for the Albion Club, representing Taranaki.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941 and after training was sent to the United Kingdom in 1943. His older brother Stephen William Holder also enlisted with the RNZAF and the two brothers completed much of their training together.
An aircraft accident meant Donald was injured for a while before being transferred to various units. He was finally commissioned as a Flying Officer and posted to Operation Squadron No 115 based at Witchford, Cambridgeshire in August 1944.
He was the pilot of a Lancaster bomber which crashed over Germany with all its bombs on board, on 27 August 1944. All of the crew on-board died. The cause of the crash was unknown but it was likely caused by enemy anti-aircraft fire.
He has no known grave but is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, England. He was 22 years old when he died.
His brother Stephen survived the war and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in November 1944 for taking part in more than 37 operations over Europe.
Books
Lest We Forget, Jack West (1995)
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