Diane Holmes
Diane Holmes was a pilot who flew into the Cardiff Rift. She was the lover of a married man prior to going through the Rift.
On 18 December 1953, she, John Ellis and Emma-Louise Cowell were on their way to Dublin in Diane's plane, the Sky Gypsy, when it flew through the Cardiff Rift and ended up in Cardiff more than 50 years later.
Diane and Owen Harper had a relationship, but she decided to fly away and try to find the Rift again, hoping to get back to 1953. (TV: Out of Time)
Owen activated Torchwood Three's rift manipulator with the intent of forcing the Cardiff Rift back open, hoping to find Diane again. (TV: Captain Jack Harkness)
Later, an apparition claiming to be Diane appeared to Owen after he opened the Rift. This was later revealed to have been a vision caused by Bilis Manger. (TV: End of Days)
Behind the scenes
Torchwood website
The series 1 version of the Torchwood website contained a number of documents and articles pertaining to Diane Holmes.
Plucky gal flies in from London solo!
A newspaper article titled "Plucky gal flies in from London solo!" reported on Diane's flight from London to Sydney. The article compared Diane to Amelia Earheart, stating that she spent four days without stopping to refuel or sleep. When asked by the reporter how she found the experience, Diane replied: "Terrible wind across Bengal Bay". She planned to do a little sight-seeing, including flying out to Ayers Rock, before making her return journey.[1]
Frantic sea search for missing air ace
A newspaper article titled "Frantic sea search for missing air ace" reported the search for Diane Holmes after she went missing over the Irish Sea. They were yet to release the names of her two passengers. According to the article, Holmes was 34 years old at the time of her disappearance. The carrier firm that Diane worked for described her safety record as "impeccable".[2]
Sea search for Diane Holmes called off
A newspaper article titled "Sea search for Diane Holmes called off" from 24 December 1953, reported that the search for Diane Holmes (34) and her passengers, John Ellis (39) and Emma Louise Cowell (18) had been abandoned. The article stated that Holmes first took to flying planes during the Second World War, when she carried vital shipments across the channel in often hazardous conditions.[3]
Air ace tribute
A newspaper article titled "Air ace tribute" reported on the tenth anniversary of Diane Holmes' disappearance. The article stated that the 99's Women Aviators Society held a memorial dinner in Bristol on 18 December 1963. Sally Partington of Partington's Flying School referred to Diane as a friend. According to the article, Diane won the Bendix air race three years in a row and became the second woman to fly twice the speed of sound. After flying from England to Australia in 1952, she was given the freedom of the City of Sydney. Her first plane was a Cessna 140.[4]
Footnotes
- ↑ Newspaper report: England/Australia Flight. Torchwood website. Archived from the original on 04 December 2007. Retrieved on 28 July 2022.
- ↑ Newspaper report: Search for Sea Gypsy. Torchwood website. Archived from the original on 03 December 2007. Retrieved on 29 July 2022.
- ↑ Newspaper report: Search Called Off. Torchwood website. Archived from the original on 03 December 2007. Retrieved on 29 July 2022.
- ↑ Newspaper report: Search Called Off. Torchwood website. Archived from the original on 04 December 2007. Retrieved on 29 July 2022.
