LYMBURNER, P/O Joseph Arthur Laurent (J16573) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.425 Squadron - Award effective 21 October 1943 as per London Gazette dated 29 October 1943 and AFRO 2457/43 dated 26 November 1943. Born St. Vincent, Alberta, 17 May 1920; educated in Quebec. Iron worker with his father, 1939-1940; bench worker with Canadian Car and Foundry Aircraft, May 1940 to enlistment. Home in Montreal; enlisted there 26 February 1941. To No.4 Manning Depot, Quebec, 14 March 1941. To No.1 WS, Montreal, 4 May 1941; to No.3 ITS, Victoriaville, 9 June 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 15 July 1941 when posted to No.13 EFTS, St. Eugene; ceased training 19 August 1941 when posted to Trenton; to No.9 AOS, St. Jean, 11 October 1941; graduated 16 January 1942 and posted next day to No.6 BGS, Mountain View; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 28 February 1942 when posted to No.2 ANS, Pennfield Ridge; graduated 30 March 1942 and posted next day to “Y” Depot. To RAF overseas, 30 April 1942. Disembarked in Britain, 12 May 1942. To No.23 OTU, 16 June 1942. On 12 July 1942 he was in Wellington R1414/when it was wrecked; pilot, Sergeant R.R. Foltz (RCAF) landed with wheels retracted. Aircraft burned but Lymburner unhurt. To No.425 Squadron, 1 September 1942. To No.78 Conversion Flight, 16 September 1942. To No.425 Squadron again, 30 November 1942; also commissioned 30 November 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 30 May 1943. Served with the squadron in North Africa. To No.1 Personnel Despatch Centre, 12 August 1943. To No.82 OTU, 26 September 1943. Attached No.81 OTU, 1-13 December 1943. Attached to Felstock, 30 November to 22 December 1943. To No.1655 Mosquito Training Unit, 18 September 1944. To No.1409 Flight, 26 October 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 30 November 1944. After tour with No.425 Squadron he flew with No.1409 Flight, which photographed Bomber Command targets. On 27 February 1945, on a sortie to Mainz (Mosquito XVI, NS731, “H”), his aircraft was attacked by three fighters and then hit by flak. His pilot, S/L R.D. McLaren, DFC (Canadian in the RAF) crash-landed the Mosquito, but it caught fire and exploded; McLaren killed. Lymburner was initially treated in a German hospital, but on 22 March he was repatriated to England; two days later he was admitted to East Grinstead. He has suffered severe leg burns and was treated over a period of four months, during which time several successful skin grafts were carried out. Repatriated 4 September 1945. To No.1 Composite Training School, 12 September 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, 6 February 1946. Retired 8 February 1946. Died in Orange County, California, 5 January 1996. Portrait drawn by F/O Charles Goldhamer while at Queen Victoria Hospital (Canadian War Museum 11262). RCAF photo PL-19814 (ex UK-5373 dated 28 September 1943 shows four members of No.425 Squadron in London - P/O Laurent Lymburner (navigator, Verdun, Quebec), P/O Henri Marcotte, DFC (Montreal), P/O Armand Meilleur (WAG) and P/O Denis Turenne (pilot, Saint Pierre, Manitoba); an English “bobby” assists. Photo PL-35311 shows him. // This officer has completed a tour of operations over German and Italian territory. He has participated in attacks against some of the most heavily defended targets such as Essen, Duisburg, Wilhelmshaven, Stuttgart and Cologne. On several occasions he has navigated his aircraft accurately to the target and back in adverse weather. A skilful navigator, Pilot Officer Lymburner's cheerful confidence throughout his tour of operational duty has inspired a high standard of morale and courage in his crew. // LYMBURNER, F/O Joseph Arthur Laurent, DFC (J16573) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.1409 Flight (AFRO gives unit only as "Overseas") - Award effective 12 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 471/45 dated 16 March 1945. Cited with F/L Robert Duncan McLaren (RAF). // Flying Officer Lymburner and Flight Lieutenant McLaren, as observer and pilot respectively, were detailed for a reconnaissance far over enemy territory. The complete success achieved on this difficult mission reflects the greatest credit on the skill, courage and determination of these members of aircraft crew. // Notes: Assessed 22 August 1943 when he had flown 520 hours 10 minutes (193 in past six months). “An above average officer, keen and conscientious.” (W/C J. St. Pierre, No.425 Squadron_. // Assessed 18 September 1944 at No.82 OTU when he had flown 595 hours 25 minutes (22.10 in past six months. “This officer possesses average ability and carries out his duties in a reliable manner.” (W/C R.H. Cox). // Admitted to East Grinstead, 24 March 1945, “Condition only fair”, he had surgery by Wing Commander Ross Tilley (RCAF) on 28 March and 17 April 1945. Discharged on sick leave, 23 August 1945. Treated thereafter as an out-patient. // Circumstances of being shot down: Based on telephone report from East Grinstead Hospital, 1300 hours, 29 March 1945. He stated they had taken off at 1400 hours on 27 February 1945. “Ordered to phonograph bombing formations onto, over and away from target [Mainz], also photograph results of bombing of target if possible. Took off rather late so we made a bee line for target expecting to be ten minutes late. Got there with first wave of bombers running over target. It was the best results we have ever made. The numerous formations photographed consisted of bombers were excellent due to stratacu, approximate height 10,000 feet, target not visible; however when bombers departed the stratacu started to build up from even shape to turbulent shape into Q and M clouds or into heaped clouds. Circled for awhile to photograph these as it was most unusual when all of a sudden pilot yelled ‘Fighters” and I got out of the cubby hole in front. I think the pilot lost control of the aircraft; I couldn’t move anything, Top dome escape hatch and one engine gone, came screaming straight down. Enemy fighters, three single engine jobs with white spinners, didn’t have time to recognize them. We went straight down; equipment flew out top hatch. Reached stratacu approximately 4- to 5,000 feet, levelled out and tried to fly and reach allied territory or England. Got another good shot from fighters, then as nothing else could be done suggested baling out but pilot said “No, we can crash land.’ Just as we were flying over little town (probably Simmeny, Germany) finished with flak. Just as we crash landed aircraft blew up and I was unconscious for a few seconds probably, and when I came to was away from aircraft and on fire semi-conscious. I immediately tried to put out the fire, rolling over the ground. Asked Jerries what had happened to the other member of the crew and they said he was killed. Crash landed with pilot who was with me all the time.” // This was followed by another telephone call, 1600 hours of 29 March 1945, summarized as follows: “Flight Lieutenant Lymburner shot down 27 February 1945 near target Mainz and taken by four Germans to small house for few hours. Then transferred to a German hospital at Simmeran near target Mainz. Two weeks later the town was taken by United States Forces and he with few patients were left behind for two days by the U.S. Forces. Was transferred on 18 March 1945 to 107 Evacuation Hospital. From there to 58 Field Hospital on 22 March 1945. Was evacuated to United Kingdom tp 130 Station Hospital U.S. and admitted to Basingstoke Hospital Stayed there overnight and transferred to East Grinstead 24 March 1945. Flight Lieutenant Lymburner does not remember much of his staying in the German hospital.” // Training: Interviewed in Montreal, 28 January 1941 by F/O P.E. Henault. “Keen, good physique, bilingual, intelligent. Good material for pilot.” // Attended No.3 ITS, 9 June to 15 July 1941. Courses in Mathematics (82/100), Armament, practical and oral (71/100), Signals (96/100), Hygiene and Sanitation (31/40), Drill (84/100) and Law and Discipline (52/60). Placed 32nd in a class of 143. “Bright young French Canadian. Keen, alert. Fair educational background. Cheerful. Talks easily. Frank. Good average type.” // Attended No.13 EFTS, 16 July to 18 August 1941. Finch II aircraft. Flew 12 hours 55 minutes dual but washed out - “No judgment on circuits and landings. Unsafe to solo.” // Attended No.9 AOS, 13 October 1941 to 16 January 1942. Anson aircraft - 24 hours 35 minutes as first navigator by day, 32.45 as second navigator by day, 5.45 as first navigator by night, 8.40 as second navigator by night. Also 3.23 bombing by day and 2.22 bombing by night. Ground courses in DR Plotting (119/150), DR-DF-WT written (176/200), Compasses and Instruments (129/150), Signals (85/100), Maps and Charts (85/100), Meteorology (88/100), Photography (81/100), Reconnaissance (91/100), Bombing, written (82/100) and Bombing, practical (65/100). Placed fifth in a class of 23. // Attended No.6 BGS, 19 January to 28 Febriary 1942. Battle aircraft - 12.50 day bombing, 1.15 night bombing, 9.50 day gunnery. Dropped 19 bombs high level by day, ten high level by night, 16 low level by day. Scored 3.5 percent hits in Beam Test, 5.2 percent hits in Beam Relative Speed Test and three percent hits in Under Tail Test. Ground assessments in Bombing, written (115/150)m Bombing, practical (112/150), Gunnery, written (85/100) and Gunnery, practical (72/100). Bombing results considered high, gunnery not very good but satisfactory, Placed sixth in a class of 27. “He achieved a high position in his class, is keen and hard working, and is intent on gaining knowledge. He will be a competent Observer.” // Attended No.2 ANS,2 March to 30 March 1942. Anson aircraft - 3.50 as first navigator by day, 11.35 as second navigator by day, 8.30 as first navigator by night, 13.40 as second navigator by night. Ground courses in Astronomical Navigation, Plotting (91/100) and Astronomical Navigation, Written (67/100). Placed 54th in a class of 67. // Attended No.1655 Mosquito Training Unit, 18 September to 24 October 1944. Flew in Oxford (ten hours by day) and Mosquito (seven hours day, 7.55 night) plus 3.30 in Standard Beam Approach and Bombing exercises. “This navigator’s previous experience has proved very helpful to him. He is capable and confident. He has a tendency to make careless mistakes but when he overcomes this fault should be an above average navigator,” (S/L E.A. Lloyd).