Hampden on the Arkengarthdale Moors.
On the 16th of August 1942 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a night-navigation exercise. When flying in poor weather they became disorientated.
They had flown off their intended route and were now over high ground. Now lost the pilot reduced height to 2000 feet assuming they were over low ground.
The aircraft crashed soon after in the early hours of the 16th August around 02.30hrs. All four of the crew sustained injuries, two more serious and
they later died. The location often quoted is Hart Holes on the side of peak called Hoove, two miles or so to the north of Arkengarthdale. A
couple of map references sourced have been searched here but nothing of the aircraft located as yet. The AM Form 1180 may hold the answer
for there being little at the crash site today; initially the aircraft was assessed and given the more serious Cat. E damage. It was
then assessed again and given Cat. B and then probably removed from the site.It was later re-assessed and written off with Cat. E damage.
This last assessment was probably made after the aircraft had been recovered from the site and had been taken to a works repair
depot. Both engines were also taken away and were not considered too badly damaged - they were probably reused elsewhere having been recorded as Cat. B damage.
Pilot - Sgt J M Churchill RCAF (R/98696). Seriously injured.
Obs - F/Sgt John M Henry RCAF (R/106552), aged 26, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
WOp/AG - Sgt Robert (Bob) O Lumgair RCAF (R/86155), of Thornhill, Manitoba, Canada. Injured.
WOp/AG - Sgt Thomas B Phillips RCAF (R103788), aged 28, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
The graves of the two who lost their lives as a result of this incident.
Bob Lungair's DFC was made effective from 3rd November 1943 as per London Gazette dated 19th November 1943
He was born in Thornhill, Manitoba and was a farmer prior to enlisting 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 Sqdn. The citation for his DFC is as follows..
""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.""
I have yet to locate the crash site.
Sgt Lumgair (who's name appears often misquoted as "Lungair" later served with 408 Sqdn and gained the DFC. He is still alive, living in Mordon, Manitoba, Canada.
Sadly his brother Norman was lost on 15th March 1944 and was also serving as a pilot in 408 Sqdn. Lancaster LL637 was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed in France.