The Western Canada Aviation Museum and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will host the Avro Lancaster – the most famous and most successful Second World War night bomber – during the August long weekend of 2010.Visitors to the “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster” can climb into the pilot's seat, walk through the aircraft, see the mid-upper-gunner's turret, the bomb bay and the tail-gunner's turret and chat with the crew. You'll get a glimpse of what it was like for the crew of 7 (pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless operator, bomb aimer, mid upper gunner and rear gunner) to live in these cramped quarters for a flight that might have lasted over 12 hours in combat. It's a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with history.
Public Access Schedule: Friday, July 30: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday, July 31: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 1: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Monday, August 2: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
The aircraft is known as the “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster” in honour of Victoria Cross recipient Andrew Mynarski – a Winnipeg airman who lost his life trying to save the rear gunner in combat over France.
The Lancaster gained worldwide renown as the “Dam Buster” used in the 1943 raids on Germany’s Ruhr Valley dams. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) were the primary users of this heavy bomber. Introduced in 1942 and retired in 1963 in Canada, over 7,300 were built in England and in Canada at Victory Aircraft in Malton, Ontario.
Lancasters flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 608,612 tons of bombs between 1942-1945. Only 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each and 3,249 were lost in action. Lancasters crewed by Canadians also dropped food into the Netherlands at the war’s end to feed people in danger of starvation.
Special Museum Admission Rates: $5.00 Children, Students, Seniors & Museum members
$10.00 Adults
$30.00 Families (up to 3 children)
For more information call 204-786-5503 or click
http://www.wcam.mb.caHangar T-2, 958 Ferry Road Winnipeg MB (Access from the corner of Ellice & Ferry Road)
