Hampden P4318 on the Arkengarthdale Moors.
During the early hours of 16th August 1942 the crew of this 14 Operational Training Unit aircraft were undertaking a night-navigation exercise in poor weather having taken off from Cottesmore airfield. While flying in poor visibility they became disorientated and after they had flown away from their intended route they ended up over the high ground of the Pennines. Being unaware they were over high ground and also lost the pilot reduced height to 2000 feet assuming they were over low ground, probably to try and enable his crew to get a visual fix of their position. At around 02.30hrs the aircraft crashed on high ground in the area of the Arkengarthdale Moors. All four of the crew sustained injuries; two were seriously injured and they later died of their injuries. Some of the injured crew were taken down to High Faggergill farm by the occupants to await transport to hospital. The pilot pulled F/Sgt henry unconscious from the wreckage and he died around four hours later. Sgt Lumgair found Sgt Phillips had been thrown out of the aircraft by the impact and while he was also conscious he died around ninety minutes after the crash. All four were later taken to Catterick airfield. The location of this accident is often quoted as "Hart Holes" on the side of peak called Hoove, two miles or so to the north of Arkengarthdale. Another location for the crash suggested is Kitley Hill by a relation of the family who rescued the crew which must be more credible. I have yet to locate the precise crash site and record it.
Hampden P4318 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection in March 1940. It was allotted to 10 M.U. on 12th March 1940 and was received by them on 21st March 1940. On 24th May 1940 it passed to 8 M.U. and was about to be taken on charge by 106 Squadron at Finningley on 15th December 1940 when it sustained damage in a flying accident. When it was being ferried by a pilot from H.Q., S.F.P.P. based at Kemble it made a forced landing at North Thoresby in bad weather. The pilot overshot the selected fieid and ran into a hedge. The damage was assessed on site and Cat.R/FA damage was the result. It was transported for a repair in works at Tollerton Service Aircraft Section on 26th December 1940. On completion of the repair it passed to English Electric, Service Aircraft Section on 3rd March 1941 and then to 37 M.U. on 20th April 1941. It was not until 11th July 1941 that it was finally taken on charge by a proper flying unit. On this date 25 O.T.U. at Finningley received the aircraft. On 25th July 1941 it sustained minor damage when it swung on take off from from Balderton airfield and the undercarriage collapsed. Cat.R(b)/FA damage was the damage assessment made by No.43 Group D.A. and it was again taken away on 28th July 1941 for a repair in works at what appears to be "C&W Works", Service Aircraft Section. On 1st January 1942 it passed to Tollerton's works factory for further work. On 17th January 1942 it was listed as ready and awaiting allocation. the aircraft was then flown to 12 M.U. on 14th February 1942 and was taken on charge by 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford on 30th March 1942. The aircraft was later transferred to 14 O.T.U. at Cottesmore on 10th June 1942. As a result of the accident on 16th August 1942 the damage assessment was Cat.E damage and the aircraft was struck off charge on the same date. The aircraft's AM Form 1180 for the incident states that it was initially assessed as Cat.E but was then assessed again and given Cat.B and then probably removed from the site for possible repair. It was further re-assessed and written off with Cat.E2/FA damage being recorded. This last assessment was probably made after the aircraft had been recovered from the site and had probably been taken to a works repair depot. By mid-1942 Hampdens were being fazed out and it was probably not repaired as it would have been obsolete within months. Both engines were also taken away and were not considered too badly damaged - they were probably re-used elsewhere having been recorded as Cat.B damaged.
Pilot - Sgt John Mervyn Churchill RCAF (R/98696), of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Injured.
Observer - F/Sgt John Magwood Henry RCAF (R/106552), aged 26, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Oliver Lumgair RCAF (R/86155), of Thornhill, Manitoba, Canada. Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Bowman Phillips RCAF (R/103788), aged 28, of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
John Henry was born on 2nd August 1917 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and was the son of John and Mabel Marie (nee Magwood) Henry. As a young man he attended the University of British Columbia from 1936 until 1941 where he studied astrophysics and chemistry, he clearly had a bright future ahead of him had the war not intervened. He enlisted for RCAF service in Vancouver on 21st May 1941 to serve as aircrew and after basic training in Canada he was awarded his Air Observers' flying badge on 31st January 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 10 (O)AFU from 26th May 1942 and was posted to 14 OTU on 23rd June 1942.
Thomas Phillips was born on 27th June 1914 at Choppington, Northumberland, England and was the son of William and Florence (nee Bowman) Phillips. His father was a railway clerk for the LNER and the family lived at Foster's Buildings, Scotland Gate, Choppington but with the First World War developing his father enlisted for military service. He had probably served in a regiment local to Northumberland but by April 1918 he was serving in the 8th Btn, Somerset Light Infantry. On 5th April 1918 Sgt William Phillips (15917) was killed in action in France but he has no known grave so is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. As a boy Thomas attended school locally in Choppington before continuing to grammar school in the area until 1928. He and his mother then emigrated to the Drumheller area of Alberta, Canada where he worked for a number of companies in the area between 1929 and enlisting for RCAF service in 1941. He enlisted for RCAF service in Calgary on 28th May 1941 and after basic training in Canada he was awarded his wireless operator / air gunner flying badge on 13th February 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at No.4 Signal School before posting to 14 OTU on 23rd June 1942. His mother re-married a Mr. M.Maddison and they would live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada by the time CWGC (IWGC) compiled their records.
Robert "Bob" Lumgair was born on 27th August 1919 and was a son of Robert Wallace and Hannah Louisa Lumgair, of Thornhill, Manitoba, Canada. Sgt Lumgair's surname appears often misquoted as "Lungair". He was a farmer prior to enlisting for RCAF service in Winnipeg on 20th December 1940. Having completed his basic training in Canada was posted to the UK and after recovering from the injuries sustained with 14 OTU he completed the training and was posted to 408 Squadron. For service with 408 Squadron he was awarded the DFC. Bob Lumgair's DFC was made effective from 3rd November 1943 as per London Gazette dated 19th November 1943, the citation reads.. "As air gunner, Warrant Officer Lumgair has taken part in a large number of sorties involving attacks on industrial centres in the Ruhr and many other targets of importance. He is a most conscientious member of aircraft crew whose vigilance and skill have played a good part in the successes obtained. During an operation against Hanover in October 1943, his aircraft was attacked by a fighter. In the ensuing combat Warrant Officer Lumgair displayed excellent judgement in directing the necessary evading tactics, afterwards using his guns to such good effect in unison with the rear gunner that the attacker was shot down in flames. His efforts contributed materially to the success of the sortie." He left the RCAF after the war and worked in farming until retiring. He died in 2012 in Mordon, Manitoba, Canada. Sadly his brother Norman was lost on 15th March 1944 and was also serving as a pilot in 408 Squadron when Lancaster LL637 was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed in France.
John Churchill enlisted for RCAF service in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in April 1941. At that time the records are confusing, he was either living in Kamloops, British Columbia or in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan when he enlisted. Having completed his training in Canada he was posted to the UK and must have been a relatively fresh bomber pilot when the incident detailed at the top of this page occurred. He recovered from his injuries by 10th September 1942 as he flew an operational flight to Dusseldorf in a 14 OTU Hampden on this date. He later received his commission. By June 1944 had flown in the Middle East with the USAAF and possibly later with 178 Squadron. In the rank of F/O he was awarded the American DFC Gazetted on 20th June 1944 but had left the RCAF by the end of 1944. Hugh Halliday's RCAF awards website has been used to compile this biography. The DFC citation as found by Mr Halliday reads.. "For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights during the successful invasion of Sicily by Allied Forces. These operations, which included the destruction of strategic enemy targets, were conducted despite intensive anti-aircraft fire of enemy ground installations, strong fighter opposition by enemy aircraft, and adverse weather and field conditions. The outstanding performance of his duties contributed in a marked degree to the successes achieved by his squadron on operational missions while with the Ninth United States Air Force in the Middle East prior to 24th July 1943."