CUMBERS John William Fl/Sgt 424 Sqn DFM RCAF

This photograph was taken on the steps outside the George and Dragon in 1944/45.We think this is Fl/Sgt John William Cumbers (Mid Air Gunner) and Warrant Officer Tommy Vanchuk (Observer/Navigator C4832 of 424 Sqn.

John was born in 1925 in Winnipeg.He enlisted in the RCAF on 11th Dec 1942.R210110/J88456. John was awarded the DFM in September 1944 for shooting down a ME-109 and a FW-190 in Halifax 111 “F” LW 113 .He completed 39 Ops by the end of the war

John in his turret in 1944.He has Junior painted on the front of his helmet as he was the youngest member of his crew.

John is on the right of his Halifax bomber “Der Fuerhers Fate”

Fl/Sgt John Cumbers is on the back row far right.

Warrant Officer Tommy Vanchuck.He died on the 14th May 2004 at the age of 87 in White Rock,British Columbia

John Cumbers remained in aviation after the war and served with the Air Cadet League.He also worked as a firefighter.Known as “Doc”

Please let us know if you can confirm whether this is Fl/Sgt John Cumbers of 424 Sqn.