For Those who Love Canada and Warbirds

**cessna152towser** · 29th August 14, 07:11 AM

When I posted this image of the South Ontario kilt rabble beside the Andrew Mynarski memorial Lancaster bomber at Canadian Warplane Heritage at Mount Hope Airport, Hamilton, Ontario, six years ago, none of us could have foreseen that the Lancaster would one day cross the pond and visit Middleton St. George airfield in England where Mynarski was based and from where he flew his thirteenth and final mission, but here it is in England yesterday:-

As my dad served with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan at Gananoque Ontario and at Penhold Alberta during World War 2 and my mother's family all emigrated to Canada I took out a life membership of Canadian Warplane Heritage and had the good fortune to be welcomed on board the Lancaster by one of the hosts from Ontario.

008 by cessna152towser
Some re-enactors in Royal Canadian Air Force uniforms inspect the tail turret.

Inspecting the Tail Turret by cessna152towser
Andrew Charles Mynarski V.C. is commemorated outside the former Officers' Mess which is now a hotel.

The Last Salute by cessna152towser
The Lancaster put on a fine display

Lancaster in Flight by cessna152towser
More to follow shortly

**cessna152towser** · 29th August 14, 07:27 AM

The St. George Hotel which was originally built as the Officers' Mess and served the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1945

The St. George Hotel by cessna152towser
Canadian War Memorial in front of the St. George Hotel

War Memorial by cessna152towser
Mynarski's Last Salute

Andrew Charles Mynarski V.C. by cessna152towser
A few of the survivors were in attendance

The Last of the Few by cessna152towser, on Flickr
The Lancaster catches the late afternoon sun

Lancaster in the late Afternoon Sun by cessna152towser
During the war the Canadian Lancasters would fly from here to bomb Nuremberg, a hazardous journey at the mercy of enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire from the ground. Middleton St. George is now a civil airport and as if to remind us of progress, this arrived just as I was about to leave. My German wife and I fly back and forward to visit her family in Nuremberg three or four times per year in the peacetime safety of one of these, the Fokker 70 of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines:-

Fokker 70, KLM, PH-WXC by cessna152towser
That's all folks. More on my Flickr pages for anyone interested.

**Father Bill** · 29th August 14, 07:29 AM

I too married a German girl. Ain't peace marvellous? We could use more of it.

**Jock Scot** · 29th August 14, 07:35 AM

I saw it! When I was down South a week or so ago. Well actually, I saw two, flying together. Those Merlin engines have a sound all of their own and even after too many decades have passed, I can recognise the sound instantly.

**plaid preacher** · 29th August 14, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the pictures, Alex. I used to live in the Hamilton area, and so had the good fortune of seeing her in flight on many occasions. I am jealous that you got to go inside... that is a privilege that even visitors to the museum don't get. I am waiting for photos of the two Lancasters flying together to show up. (The last two flying airframes, 1 in the UK and 1 here in Canada). I have a gentleman in my congregation who was a tail gunner on the Lancaster and flew 24 missions. When I visited him recently I told him about the Lancaster from Canada making the transatlantic flight and promised that I would bring pictures of the two flying together during my next visit.

**Jock Scot** · 29th August 14, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by plaid preacher

Thanks for the pictures, Alex. I used to live in the Hamilton area, and so had the good fortune of seeing her in flight on many occasions. I am jealous that you got to go inside... that is a privilege that even visitors to the museum don't get. I am waiting for photos of the two Lancasters flying together to show up. (The last two flying airframes, 1 in the UK and 1 here in Canada). I have a gentleman in my congregation who was a tail gunner on the Lancaster and flew 24 missions. When I visited him recently I told him about the Lancaster from Canada making the transatlantic flight and promised that I would bring pictures of the two flying together during my next visit.

Google is your friend! I am not cleaver enough to do the link thing, but if you google " last two flying Lancasters" there are several articles there, including videos. Turn up the sound!!

**Tomak** · 29th August 14, 08:24 AM

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.

**Liam** · 29th August 14, 08:25 AM

Thank you for posting this. One of my Uncles was shot down while returning from a bombing run. He lies forever in Holland.

**creagdhubh** · 29th August 14, 08:40 AM

Cracking photos, Alex! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

**416 Rigby** · 29th August 14, 09:47 AM

I've been an aircraft freak since I was a little boy. After a career in military aviation, I still look up when I hear one fly over. The old warbirds are extra special, and the Lancaster is a gem. The bomb bay is enormous! Thanks for the story!

I love Canada as well. I married a wonderful BC gal.