Lancaster Bomber Crew

The “lads” from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (Hamilton, ON) get the Lancaster ready for a Remembrance Day fly over. This fully restored Avro Lancaster is one of only two in the entire world that still fly (more than 7300 were originally manufactured in Britain and Canada). Her registration is CGVRA, but the crew fondly refer to her as “Vera”.

The CWH Museum has dedicated its Mynarski Memorial Lancaster to the memory of Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski, VC, of 419 (Moose) Squadron, 6 (RCAF) Group. Mynarski won 6 Group’s only Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry in battle. On the night of 12/13 June 1944, his Lancaster X was shot down by a Luftwafffe night fighter. As the bomber plunged earthwards, Mynarski, his flying clothing afire, tried in vain to free his trapped rear gunner from the jammed rear turret. Miraculously, the gunner lived to relate the story of Mynarski’s bravery. Unfortunately, Mynarski died from his severe burns.