Norman Andrew Lumgair

1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with Maple Leaf and Bomber Command Clasps, 1939-45 War Medal

Royal Canadian Air Force 408 Squadron

R157269 J86440

12 April 1922 – 15/16 March 1944

Norman was born on 12 April 1922 at Thornhill Manitoba to Robert W. and H. Louisa Lumgair (Ching). He received his education at Orangehill and Wellington Schools at Thornhill, finishing Grade XI in June of 1939. As well as working on the home farm, he enjoyed skiing and skating in the winter, and playing ball in the summer.

He enlisted and was taken on strength on February 26, 1942 and trained as a pilot at various bases in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Canadian, as well as other Commonwealth Aircrews, were trained under British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, part of Canadas contribution to the war effort. He sailed for Britain on 27 March 1943. On arrival, he took more training on military bases in Britain and was assigned to 408 Squadron 04 February 1944 as a Flight Sergeant Pilot. 408 Squadron was a Lancaster Bomber Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse. He made five operational trips in February. The sixth and fatal trip was on 15 March 1944 with Stuttgart, Germany as the target. His plane encountered German night fighters over Hillsenheim, France and was shot down. The Book, “Last Flight To Stuttgart” by Lisa Russ recalls the story of Pilot Officer Lumgair and his aircrew.

A letter received by the family, dated 30 August 1949 reads as follows;

Dear Mr. Lumgair:

A communication has just come to hand from the Graves Registration Service which states that the graves of your son, Pilot Officer Norman Andrew Lumgair, and the members of his crew in Hillsenheim Cemetery, France have been registered by that Service. The graves of your son and his three crewmates who were not individually identified are registered collectively with their names as communal grave No. 4.

As you were previously advised the graves will be reverently cared for and maintained in perpetuity by the Imperial War Graves Commission (of which Canada is a member).

It is my earnest hope that you will be comforted with the knowledge that your son’s resting place is known, and that it will be permanently maintained, and I would like to take this opportunity of expressing to you and the members of your family my deepest sympathy in the loss of your gallant son.

Yours sincerely,

W.R. Gunn Wing Commander

Pilot Officer Norman Andrew Lumgair is commemorated on Page 369 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance kept in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, as well as the Bomber Command Memorial wall in Nanton, Alberta. The Province of Manitoba has named a geographical location in honor of each WW 2 casualty from Manitoba. A Memorial Plaque in honor of Pilot Officer N.A. Lumgair was place at the mouth of Lumgair Creek (east of Waboden, Manitoba) by his brother Robert O. Lumgair.

Information supplied by Hugh Lumgair.