A Mosquito bomber crew of No. 464 Squadron RAAF at RAF Station Methwold, preparing for the "take ...

A Mosquito bomber crew of No. 464 Squadron RAAF at RAF Station Methwold, preparing for the "take off". Identified: 415023 Flight Sergeant K. R. Russel, Auckland, NZ (left) and 402372 Warrant Officer E. R. Lumsdaine, Manly, NSW. Ernest Roy Lumsdaine enlisted in the RAAF on 19 August 1940 in Sydney, NSW. His initial training took place at Bradfield Park, NSW, and after completing his basic aircrew training in early October, Lumsdaine embarked from Sydney in early November. He arrived in Durban, South Africa, on 10 December 1940 and proceeded to Rhodesia where he trained as an observer. He completed this course in February 1941 and was posted to Queenstown, South Africa, to train as a navigator. During the course, he was promoted to sergeant. On completion of his training in October 1941, Lumsdaine was sent to England where he was posted to 14 Operational Training Unit (OTU) which at the time was flying Hampden bombers. On 8 March 1942, He was one of two crewmen who survived the crash of a Hampden bomber when the pilot crashed the plane during a night landing, killing himself and the rear gunner. Lumsdaine and the other survivor's lives were saved when a quick thinking farm labourer extinguished a fire that had started in one of the plane's engines. Having survived the crash with minor injuries, Lumsdaine soon returned to duty. On 23 December 1942 he was promoted warrant officer. On 27 June 1943, Lumsdaine was briefly posted to 16 OTU for two days before being posted to 13 OTU where he became a navigator in Mosquito aircraft. On 6 December 1943, he was posted to 464 Squadron as a navigator. During a training flight at Chipping Warden aerodrome, on 6 January 1944, the Mosquito he was a navigator in, undertook a low pass over the airfield. The pilot misjudged his pass and the Mosquito came into contact with the ground before crashing into a nearby hangar, killing the pilot and Lumsdaine. Ernest Roy Lumsdaine was laid to rest with full military honours on 12 January 1944 at the Oxford RAF cemetery in North Hinksey, Berkshire.