"®i©ardo" wrote in message
...
Canuck wrote:

"®i©ardo" 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


Incredible stuff, thanks for posting that. Another reminder of the
tremendous debt that we (the UK) owe to Canada.

®i©ardo

I'm glad you found it interesting. Take care,

Nick