Prior to the war Lloyd was a member of the Chatham Baptist Church and attended high school at Chatham Collegiate Institute (CCI). The son of Alderman and Mrs. A. T. Groombridge of Chatham.  Lloyd was married and the father of Larry residing at 192 Grand Ave., East, Chatham.   

Trained at Toronto, Jarvis, Belleville, Ottawa and Manitoba. Made a special flight to Washington, Miami and Maryland in a black Lancaster bomber, before going overseas. Posted overseas in June 1944 he was stationed at an air force base in Belgium. He served as a navigator on a Mitchell bomber. Completed fifty operational flights over Germany and enemy territory  in then a year’s service overseas with the R.C.A.F. Twice he was hit with flak but was not wounded in Either cases.

The CDN 13/04/44 reported that Pilot Officer Groombridge had been promoted to Flying Officer, at the time he was stationed at RCAF-Gimlie, MB. 

Groombridge went overseas in 1944 serving till the end of the war. A navigator on a B25 Mitchell bomber he made fifty “softening-up” missions during the European campaign from the beachhead at Normandy “to the gates of Berlin”. CDN 25/09/45(P). As the Allied troops gained territory in Europe the B-25’s progressed to bases in France and Belgium. Their job “was mostly in support of the army against the enemy supply lines, air fields, rail lines etc.” Since they were no longer flying from bases in England their flight time was shorter but their bombing was from 2 to 4,000 feet. Navigation was mostly “by map reading and wind wasn’t really a factor”. Lloyd flew 50 ‘operational missions’ in six months and was back home.” WHATHG

The CDN 24/03/45 reported that a bronze bust of “Der Fuehey” taken from a German Gestopo building that had been attacked by Canadian Typhoon fighter-bombers had been wrapped in a German flag and dropped by FO. Yarwood of Toronto and FO. Groombridge on German troops from their B25 Mitchell bomber with a note attached reading “Hey Jerry! We want the real thing – not this dud!”  

After returning from overseas duty he became an instructor with the Chatham Air Cadets. His working career was in civic administration, he served as City Treasurer and finished as City Manager, retiring before amalgamation.

Discharged June 28th, 1945.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

CBC-RH, “Where have all the heroes gone” William F. Martin D.F.C..

Birthplace	Chatham, Ontario
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	March 13th, 1942
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Beatrice Ellinor Groombridge

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