Flying Officer Charles Gordon Cumming

On 13th March 1943, Kenley’s 403 squadron had a bad day escorting sixty Flying Fortresses on a bombing raid to the marshalling yards at Amiens..

Disastrously, the bombers were twenty minutes late for their rendezvous with their fighter escort and didn’t fly directly to their target. By the time they reached the French coast, the Spitfires were short of fuel. Two pilots were lost and at least two more crash landed. Only three of the twelve Spitfires made it back to Kenley.

FLYING OFFICER CHARLES GORDON CUMMING was born on the 10th August, 1915, in Galt, Ontario. His Father was Charles Reginald Cumming, a physician, born in Canada and his Mother was Agnes Williamson MacBean, also Canadian. He had a brother and sister. Between 1935 and 1937, Charles attended the J. Russel School of Fine Arts. His civil occupation was as a landscape and portrait painter. Charles already had a private pilot’s license when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in December 1940, and had done 16 hours solo.

Needless to say, Cumming did very well during his early training. At No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School, he was reported to be, “Very cool, confident and capable,” and, “capable of carrying out flying orders under very trying conditions.” He was awarded his pilots flying badge on 20th August 1941 and was posted overseas to Britain in September.

Cumming was first sent to No.52 Operational Training Unit, at Debden, and then posted to 245 squadron in November 1941. During the early months of 1942, he seems to have spent some time in hospital, including a spell in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, but I don’t know why. Charles took part in the Dieppe Raid on 19th August and was selected for a commission on 6th September. In early December he was transferred to 403 squadron and reported for flying duties with ‘B’ flight on the 8th December.

Charles was flying Blue 3 during ‘Ramrod’ 43, and had probably run out of fuel when he reported engine failure. Fearing that he wouldn’t make it back across the Channel he turned his Spitfire (AS145) inland and sent a Mayday from a position to the East of Berck. That was the last contact he made with his squadron.

Rest in Peace Sir and thank you for your service.