"ŽiŠardo" wrote in message
...
Canuck wrote:
Thanks Canuck, some real gems there.
You are welcome! It is an incredible aircraft with an amazing history. There
is a whole significance to this particular aircraft and Andrew Mynarski.
Here is a synopsis:
"Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski was the mid-upper gunner of a Lancaster
bomber, attacking a target at Cambrai, France, on the night of 12 June 1944.
The aircraft came under fire from an enemy fighter. The pilot ordered the
crew to bail out. In an act of heroism, Mynarski remained onboard the fiery
plane, determined to save his friend.
The son of Polish immigrants, Andrew Mynarski grew up in the North End of
Winnipeg. In 1932 he left school and took a job as a leather cutter to help
support the family. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 and in
January 1943 was posted to England.
Mynarski was serving with 419 "Moose" Squadron when his plane was shot down.
Preparing to jump from the blazing airplane, he saw that the rear gunner,
Pat Brophy, was trapped in his gun turret, struggling to break free.
Immediately, Mynarski turned from the escape hatch and made his way back
through the flames, ignoring his friend's shouts of, "Go back! Save
yourself!" After numerous attempts to release Brophy, Mynarski reluctantly
make his way back to the hatch. His parachute and clothes ablaze, he offered
his friend a final gesture of encouragement: he stood at attention and
saluted. He jumped, but succumbed to his burns soon after landing.
Miraculously, Brophy survived the crash. The plane hit a tree as it crashed
to earth, breaking open the gun turret and throwing him free. He thus lived
to tell of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski's bravery. Andrew Mynarski was
awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his effort to save another's
life."
I copied/pasted from:
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14739
There is a brief video there as well as a whole host of interesting
historical information.
ENJOY!
Nick