John Bullen – Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Topic:  Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, VC, RCAF

Speaker details heroic role of Andrew Mynarski

Andy Redman introduced guest speaker John Bullen, a member and volunteer with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. John’s interest in the museum was inspired by his uncle who was a senior Harvard flight instructor during WWII where he was based at the Kingston, Ontario airport.

 John’s topic was pilot officer Andrew Mynarski, VC and his role as a member of the RCAF. John pointed out that the Lancaster was one of three heavy bombers produced during the war. It was the fastest, had the greatest range – up to 4,000 km – and could carry the largest bombs. He noted that of 430 Lancasters built at Malton, 320 were sent overseas. By 1945, Canada was building 400 Lancasters per month. The plane carried six tons of ordinance and flew night-time missions which lasted four to seven hours. Crew members signed on for 30 missions but in 1943 the survival rate was just 18%.

John said that Andrew Mynarski, who was born in Winnipeg in 1916, joined the army at age 25 but was assigned to RCAF Bomber Squadron in 1944 as part of a crew of seven. Mynarski, a mid-upper gunner, developed a close relationship with tail gunner Pat Brophy. The two positions were considered the most dangerous and most isolated on the plane.

John described the events of the bomber’s mission on the night of 12-13 June 1944. The plane was picked up enemy spotlights and attacked and hit by night fighters. With two engines knocked out and fire starting to spread, the pilot ordered the crew to evacuate but just as Mynarski was about to bail out, he noticed that his friend Brophy was trapped inside his tail gunner turret. Mynarski crawled through flames to try to free Brophy but finally, at Brophy’s urging, he left the plane with his uniform and parachute on fire. He landed but died from his burns in hospital the next day at the age of 27. He is buried near Amiens, France.

Amazingly, Brophy went down with the plane but was thrown clear still in his turret and survived with hardly a scratch. He and three other members of the crew were picked up by French Resistance and eventually made their way back to England. Bullen noted that after the war, Brophy moved to Niagara and died in St. Catharines in 1991.

Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously in 1946 for his valour and bravery in giving his life trying to save his fellow crew member. Mynarski was further honoured in 1984 when the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum restored a Lancaster Mk X to full flying condition — one of only two still flying in the world — and dedicated it to his memory. A large bronze statue was dedicated to Mynarski’s memory at the Middleton St. George bomber base where he served in England.

Duncan McLaren thanked John for his moving presentation, so appropriate for a day of remembrance.