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Model of Wellington HF742, constructed by Dr Cumming

Sergeant David Cumming flew with 70 Squadron as an observer from April to August 1943.  

Wellington III HF742, which appears elsewhere on this site, was the main aircraft he flew, possibly marked as 'O' orange in his time.

The crew of HF742 when Sgt Cumming was flying was:

Pilot - Flight/Sergeant Harry. C. Grundey (DFM)

Navigator - Sergeant Douglas Edwin Eldred, later Flight/Lieut Wagstaff (DFC + bar) after the death of Sgt Eldred.

Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner - Sergeant David Cumming

Wireless op/air gunner - Sergeant D. Dodson

Rear Gunner - Sergeant H. Viens (Canada - "Viens" pronounced as "Vines" by the crew).

Dr Cumming believes that Flight/Sgt Grundey was 26 at the time and was later killed at the age of 27 when flying as an OTU instructor, according to  the following note in Sgt Cumming's log:

"Flight Sergeant Grundey (promoted P/O) was killed in a flying accident from Quastina (an operational training unit flight) RAF Quastina (M.E.F.).  He was flying as an instructor pilot."

Sgt Cumming flew 21 ops, (6 of which in HF742), and came off active duty due to kidney stones. He returned to England and undertook more flying as an instructor, ascending to status of Warrant Officer. The remainder of the crew completed their 30 trip tour,

A further aircraft that Sgt Cumming flew in, albeit only once in a bombing exercise on April 29, 1943, was  DF689, also featured on this site.

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