By Martin Zeilig
A Lancaster bomber, nicknamed VERA, which is owned by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, flew into the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada for two days of public viewing on July 16.
It is one of only two Lancasters still flying today, with the other such plane being in Great Britain.
The iconic Second World War aircraft was greeted by crowd of some 75 people, amongst whom were members of the local media and VIPs, including Brigadier General Ron Walker, Deputy Commander of Force Generation, 1 Canadian Air Division, and Brigadier General John Alexander, Commander of 2 Canadian Air Division.
“During Lancaster days, the museum saw more than 2500 visitors,” said Vanessa DeSourcy, Marketing & Communications Specialist at the RAMWC.
“We were very excited by the Lancaster’s return after 14 years, and to see such a large turnout of visitors to see this legendary aircraft.”
This particular Lancaster is dedicated to the memory of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, originally from Winnipeg. It bears the colours and markings of his aircraft, part of 419 Squadron.
“On June 13, 1944, a night fighter attacked Mynarski’s Lancaster,” notes provided information.
“Fighting through the flames and without regard for his own safety, Mynarski attempted to free the trapped rear gunner. Upon realizing he could not save him, Mynarski saluted and then jumped. The gunner, in a twist of fate, survived the crash while Mynarski, parachute aflame, fell to his death. Posthumously, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.”
“This Lancaster was acquired by the CWHM from the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich, Ontario in 1977,” noted Al Mickeloff, Marketing Manager at the CWHM, who flew into Winnipeg a day before the Lancaster arrived.
“The museum’s restoration crew, consisting mostly of World War ll veterans, painstakingly restored the aircraft over eleven years. On September 11, 1988, the restored Lancaster flew again and has flown consistently since then.”
This particular Lancaster was built in 1945 by the former Avro aircraft factory in Malton, Ontario, Mr. Mickeloff said.
It never saw service overseas.
photos by MCpl Darryl Hepner
The Royal Canadian Air Force used it as a search and rescue aircraft.
Michael Zacharuk, who joined the RCAF in January 1955 and left in May 1966, flew the Lancaster for 107 Rescue Squadron in St. John’s Newfoundland.
“It was a noisy aircraft,” Mr. Zacharuk, who also flew for Air Canada from 1966-1991, said while waiting for the arrival of the Lancaster in the second floor lounge at the RAMWC.
“But, I enjoyed flying it. We had that aircraft from 1961-63. It was ideal as a search and rescue aircraft because of all the plexiglass in the nose and elsewhere.”
BGen Walker said it was a great honour to witness the arrival of the Lancaster in Winnipeg.
“It’s one of my favourite aircraft in the world,” he admitted.
“I had the privilege of being around it when I was in Greenwood, Nova Scotia for many years—working on it, cleaning it. I admire the people who flew on it in those very challenging times during Second World War.”
He also “had the privilege” of seeing a Lancaster do a flyover during a dedication of a memorial statue for Andrew Mynarski at an old Royal Air Force base in Middleton St. George when he was part of the Canadian Defence Liaison in England.
“So, it has a special meaning for me,” BGen Walker said.
BGen Alexander observed that having the Lancaster in Winnipeg was a “fantastic” way of tying it into this year’s100th anniversary of the RCAF.
“I love the turnout here today,” he added.
“Winnipeg has got a long and proud heritage with a number of VC winners from here and the vicinity. You can’t put a price on that sort of commitment.”
Terry Slobodian, President and CEO of the RAMWC, said having the Lancaster in Winnipeg was “an emotional experience” for so many people because of family members that served on the plane and the importance it had in the war.
“It’s just such an iconic aircraft,” he added.
“It can’t be beat. It’s been here at least four times (over the years).”
Meanwhile, Leon Evans, a retired Captain with Air Canada, was the chief pilot on the Lancaster.
“I’ve been flying VERA for eighteen years,” he said to a media scrum several minutes after disembarking from the aircraft.
“It doesn’t want to go straight that’s for sure. So, you constantly are working rudders and ailerons. We don’t have hydraulic boosted controls; but we have servo tabs that help us move the controls. It’s a pleasure to fly it.”
The other crew members: Craig Brookhouse, Flight Engineer; Randy Straughan, Flight Engineer; Steve McIntosh, Pilot; Mark Graham, Crew; Martin Grahahm, Crew; Peter Boeringa, Crew.
The Lancaster will also be at the Manitoba Airshow at Southport (Portage la Prairie) August 3&4.
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