Halifax JB959 at Leeming airfield.
On the night of 9th / 10th July 1943 this 408 Squadron aircraft was to be used on an operational flight to bomb Gelsenkirchen, as it picked up speed at Leeming airfield the pilot realised that the air speed indicator was not working. At 22.44hrs the pilot attempted to abandon the take off run but the aircraft swung off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - F/Sgt A R Grubert RCAF (R/79265).
? - Sgt J G Heron.
? - P/O C L Carrigan RCAF (possibly Charles John Carrigan RCAF (J/17741)).
? - Sgt W A McCulloch.
? - P/O W D Folder RAAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Oliver Lumgair RCAF (R/86155).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Henry Hoyle (1324212).
While training at 14 OTU a Sgt A R "Gruber" was the pilot of Hampden P5397 which collided in the air with Hampden AE192 over Lincolnshire on 30th July 1942. He held the aircraft steady while his then crew baled out before making good his escape, he was later commended for his actions. It seems likely that he and the pilot of Halifax JB959 are one and the same person. Temporary F/O A R Grubert RCAF (J18351) retired from the RCAF on 31st August 1945 on medical grounds.
Frank Hoyle received a commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 12th October 1943. He was still flying with 408 Squadron on 29th December 1943 when he was killed flying in Lancaster DS718 which crashed in Germany on Ops to Berlin. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
While training with 14 OTU Sgt Lumgair survived the serious crash of Hampden P4318 on the hills above Arkengarthdale, Yorkshire on 16th August 1943 which killed two of the four crew. Bob Lumgair was a son of Robert Wallace and Hannah Louisa Lumgair, of Thornhill, Manitoba, Canada. He was a farmer prior to enlisting in Winnipeg on 20th December 1940 and having completed his basic training in Canada was posted to the UK. 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. As of 2009 he was still living, 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. 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."