In the last couple of weeks youve probably seen several videos, pictures and posts like this before but do you know the story behind the Mynarski Lancaster Bomber? One of only two such aircraft still flying, it will be arriving here at Durham Tees Valley Airport next week, 28th August 2014. Our base here was formerly RAF Middleton St George and the fly-in is to honour the bombers namesake, Andrew Charles Mynarski VC. Along with veterans from all three services, we will be parachuting that day in order to celebrate this event and commemorate a great man: Andy Mynarski was born in Winnipeg and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941. In 1944 he was assigned here, to what is now Durham Tees Valley Airport, where he completed twelve operational flights as a mid-upper gunner. On his thirteenth operation, the target was the railway marshalling yards at Cambrai, France. His crews Lancaster was attacked by a JU-88 night-fighter; the two port engines were knocked out and the aircraft set on fire. Pilot Art de Breyne ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft and, after allowing time for the crew to escape, parachuted from an altitude of about 800 feet. Unknown to Art, the rear gunner, Pat Brophy, was trapped in his turret. What then occurred in the rear fuselage is best told in Pats own words: Then I saw him (Mynarski). Andy had slid down from the mid-upper turret and made his way back to the rear escape hatch, about fifteen feet from me. He opened the door and was about to jump when he glanced around and spotted me through the plexiglass part of my turret. One look told him I was trapped. Instantly, he turned away from the hatch - his doorway to safety - and started towards me. The cramped conditions forced him to crawl on his hands and knees through blazing hydraulic oil. By the time he reached my position in the tail, his uniform and parachute were on fire. I shook my head; it was hopeless. Dont try, I shouted, and waved him away. Andy didnt seem to notice. Completely ignoring his own condition in the flames, he grabbed a fire axe and tried to smash the turret free. It gave slightly, but not enough. Wild with desperation and pain, he tore at the doors with his bare hands - to no avail. By now he was a mass of flames below his waist. Seeing him like that, I forgot everything else. Over the roar of the wind and the whine of our two remaining engines, I screamed, Go back, Andy! Get out! Finally, with time running out, he realised that he could do nothing to help me. When I waved him away again, he hung his head and nodded, as though he was ashamed to leave - ashamed that sheer heart and courage hadnt been enough. As there was no way to turn around in the confined quarters, Andy had to crawl backwards through the flaming hydraulic fluid fire again, never taking his eyes off me. On his face was a look of mute anguish. When Andy reached the escape hatch, he stood up. Slowly, as hed often done before in happier times together, he came to attention. Standing there in his flaming clothes, a grimly magnificent figure, he saluted me! At the same time, just before he jumped, he said something. And even though I couldnt hear, I knew it was Good night, Sir. Although left alone in the rear turret of the burning, abandoned bomber, Pat Brophy miraculously survived as it crashed into the occupied French countryside. Moments before the impact, Andrew Mynarskis descent was witnessed by locals on the ground; both his parachute and clothing were on fire. His jump was successful and he was found alive but was so severely burned that he soon died of his injuries. The remainder of the crew survived. After the war, Pat Brophy told the story and Andrew Mynarski was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealths highest commendation for Valour. Later, Pat said, Ill always believe that a divine providence intervened to save me because of what I had seen, so that the world might know of a gallant man who laid down his life for a friend. The last remaining Canadian-built Lancaster was restored to flying condition by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. It was christened the Andrew Mynarski Memorial Lancaster. On 28th August, as it arrives home to Andys wartime base, we will be parachuting in the skies above with veterans from all three services in order to raise money to help keep this beautiful and iconic aircraft flying. Proceeds will go to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, as well as the charity Age UK. We have reserved two tandem skydive tickets for lucky individuals willing to experience the ultimate thrill in order to help this worthy cause. If youd like to be there and free-fall in next to this amazing aircraft, call our office on 01325 337929 for more information. https://youtube/watch?v=YvuqUR0BzUY&feature=youtu.be
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:18:09 +0000
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