The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. S V Holloway

Sydney Victor Holloway was born on 27th February 1918. He joined the RAFVR on 29th March 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot and began his flying training at 3 E&RFTS Hamble in mid-April.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he went to No. 1 ITW Cambridge on 14th December 1939 and was posted to 3 FTS South Cerney on 1st February 1940.

With his training completed, Holloway converted to Blenheims at 5 OTU Aston Down from 22nd June and then on 6th July he joined 25 Squadron at Martlesham Heath.

He destroyed a He111 near Colchester during the night of 15th November 1940, flying with Sgt. JD Culmer as air gunner and AC Fildes as radar operator.

On 5th May 1941 Holloway damaged a He111 near Walton, Norfolk, in Beaufighter R2156, with Sgt. RRC Pound as radar operator. On 8th May he damaged a Ju88 near Grantham in Beaufighter R2197, again with Pound as radar operator.

Commissioned in May 1942, Holloway was posted to 60 OTU East Fortune on 20th July as an instructor.

On 13th January 1943 he was attached to 3 FIS Castle Combe for an instructor course on Mosquitos, after which he returned to East Fortune, by then renumbered as 132 OTU.

On 8th August 1943 Holloway joined 85 Squadron at West Malling. He destroyed a Ju88 on 8th October south of Bradwell, flying a Mosquito with WO Stanton as radar operator. Holloway flew anti-V1 patrols in 1944.

He was posted to the Ground Controlled Approach School at Honiley in September for a course.

From March 1945 to August 1951 he served with GCA units in Britain and on the Continent. He was made an OBE (gazetted 9th June 1949) for his work with GCA at Gatow during the Berlin Airlift.

Holloway went over to Air Traffic Control in August 1951. He retired from the RAF on 2nd March 1968 as a Squadron Leader.

He died in 1991.