BLUMER, Garry Munro
| Service Number: | 413517 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 September 1941, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Griffith, New South Wales, Australia, 1 July 1923 |
| Home Town: | Griffith, Griffith, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Griffith, New South Wales, Australia, 8 March 2007, aged 83 years |
| Cemetery: |
Griffith Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 413517, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 413517 |
Help us honour Garry Munro Blumer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Paul Wilfred BLUMER and Nancy Lillian BLUMER nee GRIFFIN, 38 Hyandra Street, Griffith, NSW
Husband of Patricia Wallace BLUMER nee WEEDEN
Flying Officer Garry Munro Blumer was a member of the renowned 'Desert Harassers' 450 Squadron RAAF whose extraordinary leadership and resilience earned him the Distinguished Service Order in April 1945.
While leading a formation of Kittyhawks on an attack of enemy vessels in the River Po, Blumer's aircraft was shot. As well as damaging the Kittyhawk, the shell fractured his arm and broke his leg. Against all odds and in extreme pain, Blumer flew his damaged plane back to base and belly-landed safely.
This wasn't his first brush with danger. Earlier in 1944, he was shot down behind enemy lines. He was fortunate to be found by an Italian partisan who hid him in a cave, before helping him join a party who would embark on a brutal trek over the snow-covered Apennines to safety. Upon returning, Blumer's debrief gave vital intelligence to his squadron, earning him a Mention in Despatches.
His bravery proves that sometimes, even when the chips are down, heroes still go all in.
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