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From the National Archives AIR/27/2072
Service No: 1398520 Jack Leslie Holland.
22nd January 1945
At 14.10 hours, 6 Spitfires took off to bomb and strafe 200 plus railway carriages between MESTRE and TREVISO. At approximately 14.50 hours, 30 of these carriages were singled out and bombed from 1,500 feet and then a strafing run was made. Mod. Light ack-ack fire came up from the target area. After the strafing attack, F/Sgt HOLLAND, J.L. (1398520) pilot in Spitfire IX J.K. 884, called up by R/T to say that he had been hit and was returning to base. The strafing attack resulted in the destruction of 2 carriages and the damaging of 6 others. By the time the leader of the formation had gained height after the attack, F/Sgt HOLLAND had disappeared from view so at 15.10 hours, the leader called F/Sgt HOLLAND asking for further information. The pilot replied that he was O.K. and was approaching the coast.
The leader called again but this time there was no reply. No position was given by F/Sgt HOLLAND and nothing further was seen or heard after his last call stating he was O.K. and approaching the coast. The remainder of the formation returned to base at 15.35 without incident. As nothing further was seen or heard of F/Sgt Holland or his aircraft, he was reported as MISSING PARTICULARS UNKNOWN and the aircraft Spitfire J.K. 884 as Cat E. 2 – Missing.
