S/Ldr A. E. Umbers was born in Dunedin on 30th June 1919.
Arthur was a clerk before he joined the RNZAF in November 1940. He was posted to the UK following flying training and is thought to have served first with 74 Squadron in late 1941/early 1942.
Later in 1942, Arthur joined 486 Squadron, the second all-New Zealand fighter unit, which initially flew Hurricanes but re-equipped with Typhoons in July 1942. 
On 22nd December, he shared in the destruction of a Do 217E fifteen miles south of Selsey. The enemy aircraft was set on fire, jettisoning a mine before crashing into the sea. On 9th April 1943, Arthur shared in shooting down an FW 190 off Etretat. 
 
On 24th June the unit escorted fighter-bombers to attack the Luftwaffe airfield at Abbeville in northern France. On the way back five FW 190's appeared and attacked a straggling fighter-bomber. Arthur Umbers chased one of the enemy aircraft and despite determined avoiding action shot it down into the Channel off the Somme Estuary. 
 
Arthur took part in air-sea rescue operations over the Channel. In one of these operations on 15th July, a Hudson of 279 Squadron dropped an airborne lifeboat to a Wellington crew, ditched close to the French coast. Fifteen FW 190’s intervened and 486 Squadron became involved in a protective action. Arthur probably destroyed one of the German fighters off Le Havre.
At the end of his operational tour he was posted away and awarded the DFC. 
 
In early 1944, Arthur was posted to 3 Squadron, as a Flight Commander. The unit converted to Tempests in April and in mid-June began defensive duties against the V-1 flying bombs. Arthur destroyed his first one on 16th June, shot down another four during the next four days, and by the end of the campaign in early September he had destroyed twenty-eight V-1’s, making him the sixth highest scoring "diver" pilot. 
 
He was awarded a Bar to the DFC. 
 
In mid-December 1944, Arthur returned to 486 Squadron to take command.
When the Luftwaffe made its big attack on Allied airfields on 1st January 1945, the squadron was on its way to Hanover on a reconnaissance sortie. Recalled and diverted to Eindhoven, the unit sighted enemy fighters and Umbers shot down two FW 190’s at Helmond.   
On 13th January he was himself shot down by American anti-aircraft fire, whilst on a reconnaissance over the St. Vith area. He made a forced-landing near Euskirchen. 
 
On the 23rd he destroyed a Bf 109 at Rheine. 
 
Arthur Umbers was killed on 14th February 1945 when his Tempest crashed in the Meppen area after being hit by flak.
He was credited with four enemy aircraft destroyed, two shared and two probably destroyed.