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Cenotaph record

Arthur Ernest Umbers

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Portrait, awarded bar to D.F.C. from The Weekly News; 13 September 1944 - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, awarded bar to D.F.C. from The Weekly News; 13 September 1944 - This image may be subject …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Arthur Ernest AWMM
  • Surname
    Umbers AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Spike AWMM
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ404003 AWMM
    • WWII 404003 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    30 June 1919 Public Source
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Wife: Mrs P. Appleton, 187 Onepu Road, Lyall Bay, Wellington (remarried) AWMM
    • WW2 Father: Mr R. A. Umbers of Abbotsford, Dunedin AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Married/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Distinguished Flying Cross and bar (DFC*) AWMM
      Citation for DFC "Flight Lieutenant Umbers has taken part in a very large number of varied operations. In attacks on shipping he has always pressed home his attacks with great vigour and has obtained several hits. In air combat, Flight Lieutenant Umbers has displayed great keeness and determination, setting a fine example. He has shared in the destruction of an enemy bomber." Citation for Bar to DFC "Flight Lieutenant Umbers has led his flight on very many sorties during which military transport, railway communications, ammunition dumps, and other targets, on the ground have been attacked with excellent results. On one occasion 8 locomotives were destroyed. By his great skill and unbeatable determination, Flight Lieutenant Umbers has played a worthy part in the successes achieved. He is a most inspiring leader." By Such Deeds, p. 489 AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    • Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)
    • Pilot RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Arthur Umbers was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Arthur Umbers, of Abbotsford, Otago; husband of Pamela Marie Umbers, of Lyall Bay, Wellington.

    Barrass, M.B. (2001- 2008). Web site: Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. "Squadrons numbered in the 400 series were technically units of the RCAF, RAAF and RNZAF, but their members were placed under the operational control of the RAF and are usually considered to be part of the RAF's organisational structure". URL: http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn485-490.htm

    He had one daughter, Jennifer Ann, born 13 April 1945. (Public source, June 2015)

    Attended Otago Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    14 February 1945 AWMM
    Age 25 AWMM
    Oberlangen, Germany AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Munster Heath War Cemetery, Telgte, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany AWMM 1. D. 21. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • The Weekly News AWMM
      The Weekly News 1944 AWMM
    • Sortehaug, P. (1998). The wild winds : the history of number 486 RNZAF Fighter Squadron with the RAF5. Dunedin, N.Z.: Author. AWMM
    • Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Mitchell, A.W. (1945). New Zealanders in the Air War. London, England: Harrap. AWMM
      pp. 158-70. AWMM
    • This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions. AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing believed killed - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845746) AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - List of New Zealand Fighter aces with their Scores (Unofficial) December 1944. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845799). AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM
    • https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18430511/arthur_ernest-umbers/photo Public - C - 31 July 2024 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18430511/arthur_ernest-umbers/photo

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
31 July 2024CWestern AustraliaOther
02 June 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
14 March 2019KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher

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