July 4, 2024
(WINNIPEG, MB – July 4, 2024) – One of only two airworthy Lancasters in the world, the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster will be at RAMWC on July 16 and 17 for viewing and tours, 35 years since its first visit.
What makes the Avro Lancaster so special?
The Lancaster is likely the most well-known Allied aircraft of WWII. It could carry immense payloads and earned much of its notoriety through the Dambusters Raid of 1943.
Thousands of Canadians served with the RCAF and RAF’s Lancaster squadron in England. Thousands more worked at Victory Aircraft in Malton, Ontario which produced more than 400 Lancaster Mk Xs. Of the 7,377 aircraft manufactured, only two are airworthy today.
This Lancaster, nicknamed VeRA, was acquired by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) in Hamilton, Ontario, from the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich, Ontario in 1977. The museum’s restoration crew, consisting mostly of World War II veterans, painstakingly restored the aircraft over eleven years. On September 11, 1988, the restored Lancaster flew again and has flown consistently since then.
In June of 1989, nearly 3,000 people showed up to see the Lancaster on display during its one-day visit to RAMWC. The Lancaster also visited the museum in 1990, 2009, and 2010, drawing similar crowds.
Why the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster?
The CWHM’s Lancaster is dedicated to the memory of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. It bears the colours and markings of his aircraft, part of 419 Squadron.
On June 13, 1944, a night fighter attacked Mynarski’s Lancaster. Fighting through 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 Myarski, parachute aflame, fell to his death. Posthumously, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
About the Lancaster’s 2024 visit to RAMWC
During its two-day stop in Winnipeg, visitors will need advance, timed-entry tickets to get up close to the Avro Lancaster. On July 16, the museum will be open from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. On July 17, the museum will be open from 1:30 – 8:00 pm. The aircraft will be open for tours on July 17 between 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
Media are invited to the museum on July 16 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm to see the Lancaster arrive, chat with crew members, and tour the aircraft.
The Lancaster visit is part of the Museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Other special events include a visit from WWII patrol bomber, the PBY-5A Consolidated Canso on July 9, and WWII fighter jet, the P-51D Mustang, visiting August 9 – 11. Later this year, the Museum will unveil its newest restoration project, an F-86 Sabre fighter jet to mark its 50th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
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About the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada was established in 1974 by a small group of visionaries committed to preserving Canada’s distinct aviation heritage. Today, with nearly 100 historic aircraft and more than 70,000 artefacts, including archival records and photographs, the museum remains one of Canada’s largest and most complete aviation heritage collections. Through remarkable storytelling and engaging exhibits that enable visitors and students to discover the science behind flight, this collection is sure to inspire future generations of aviators and inventors. RAMWC is located on the campus of the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and will be a premier attraction for the city of Winnipeg. Located on Treaty No. 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Lakota, and Dene Peoples, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis, RAMWC is committed to Truth and Reconciliation, and to creating a safe space for this to occur.
For more information or to make special arrangements, please contact:
Vanessa Desorcy, Marketing & Communications Specialist
PH: 204-712-3226
E: vanessa.desorcy@royalaviationmuseum.com
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