Hilmar was born in Langruth Manitoba on March 8, 1921. He would be one of two future 419 airmen to
be associated with
Langruth. (F/O Cameron Connell was principal of Langruth schools during the last few years of Eyjolfson's education.)
On August 14th 1941 enlisted in the RCAF in Winnipeg then took the short journey to No. 2 Manning Depot in
Brandon Manitoba.
By January of 1942 he was at No. 4 ITS in Edmonton. The results of the testing at ITS put Eyjolfson on track
to becoming a pilot.
Pilot training began at No. 5 EFTS at High River Alberta followed in June at No. 3 Service Flying Training School
in Calgary Alberta. By October 9th 1942 he received his wings.
Overseas
Leaving Halifax for the dangerous crossing of the Atlantic which would bring him to No. 3 PRC in Bournemouth. Additional training continued at No. 82 OTU
and No. 22 OTU.
His posting to 419 Squadron was sometime in mid-November 1943. His crew was initially made up of :
F/O C.E. Siddall
Sgt. J.H. Pattie
Sgt. A.E. Cossar
WO L.A. McCaughey
Sgt. Gallacher
Sgt. Dujay was replaced by Sgt. Cossar and F/O Beauchamp was replaced WO McCaughey after the first two operations.
November 18/19 1943 Mannheim
During this operation Sgt. Pattie responded to problems that the crew's Flight Engineer,
Sgt. Davidson RAF, for reasons not mentioned passed out twice during the flight.
March 25 1944
While on operation on the night March 25th. the Halifax Eyjolfson was piloting
JP125 lost both engines. Eyjolfson jettisoned the bombs and turned the aircraft back to RAF
Ford where shortly after nine p.m. the Halifax crash landed.
The aircraft overshot the runway hit a shed then ploughed into a field. The aircraft mainplanes were torn off,
engines were torn from their nacelles and the fuselage was heavily damaged. Fire broke out leaving the
Halifax as a category "E" meaning it was a write off.
P/O Eyjolfson, Sgt. Tunstall, Sgt. Pattie, and Sgt. Cossar were all injured,
reports mention that injuries were minor. F/O Siddall spend longer in the hospital
then the others. He had an injured spine also a fractured pelvis.
The Squadron Bombing Leader F/L D.W. Haseldine (DFC) was on this operation, he also was injured during the
crash, his injuries were described as minor.
The DFC comments
Pilot Officer Eyjolfsson has completed many operational sorties, throughout which his fine leadership
and skill have been outstanding. In March 1944 he was detailed for an attack on Aulnoye. Just before
reaching the south coast of England one engine of his aircraft failed but with great determination
this officer flew on and reached the enemy coast where the port inner engine also failed necessitating
the abandonment of his mission. Displaying superb airmanship he returned to this country where he
made a masterly crash landing. At all times Pilot Officer Eyjolfsson has shown great determination
pressing home his attacks irrespective of enemy opposition or adverse weather.
Home and Post War
He was an instructor at Boundary Bay, B.C. Airport. And later was
with the Vancouver Fire Department.
On June 21, 1947, Hilmar married Ruth Jonescu at Vancouver. They have one son.
