Mailed by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Road, Mount Hope, , MAY 2016 A PUBLICATION OF CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM L0R 1W0

FM213 after her crash landing at Trenton in 1952. Photo courtesy of the Ron Cruse and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

A tale of two Lancasters Lady Orchid just after the maple leafs had been added to her torso, some - time before June 7, 1945 while she was still based at the RCAF base in Croft, Yorkshire. Photo courtesy of the Clarence Simonsen collection How a derelict Canadian Lancaster would render 225, which carried the squadron KB895 and her crew began one last service to her code WL-O (Oboe). operations on April 8, 1945. country and allow an - That aircraft was then reas - Jenkins and his crew would fly a other Lanc to continue signed to No.429 (Bison) total of five missions in her by Squadron on March 28 as No. war’s end: Hamburg on April 8, to fly to this day! 434 Squadron began taking deliv - Leipzig on April 10, Kiel on April ery of new Canadian-built Lan - 13 (in which Jenkins performed caster Mk. Xs. On April 2, 1945 two successive corkscrew ma - By David Clark Jenkins and his crew took charge noeuvres to evade German night - of KB895. fighters), and Schwandorf on n January 24, 1952 Lan - After they completed pre- April 16. The final mission to caster FM213 was on ap - operational testing, No. 434 Bremen on April 22, 1945 was proach to the Royal Squadron’s commanding officer, aborted due to poor weather over OCanadian Air Force (RCAF) base Wing Commander J.C. Mulvil - the target. aOt Trenton, Ontario at the end of hill, assigned them the new Lan - Lady Orchid therefore ended one of the legs of her journey to caster as their personal aircraft. up displaying 15 white bomb join 405 MR (Maritime Recon - Now that the crew had their mission markers for the total naissance) Squadron in Green - Lady Orchid nose art. own Lancaster they decided to number of completed missions wood, Nova Scotia. personalize the aircraft. Though that Jenkins and his crew had The Cold War was in its in - nowhere near as wide-spread as it flown in combat and one red one fancy and had begun to Lady Orchid goes to war Force. Though Ron was 29 years was in American air services, for the aborted mission. rearm after the massive demobi - Lancaster Mk. X KB895 left of age (about 10 years older than painting nose art on aircraft, par - KB895 would also fly a num - lization that had occurred at the the Factory in the average recruit) he had his ticularly bombers, was becoming ber of other operations during its end of the Second World War. Malton Ont., January 1945. Vic - heart set on joining the Air Force very popular in the British and time with No. 434 Squadron with FM213 had just recently com - tory Aircraft Limited was a and fighting the war as a pilot. Commonwealth Air Forces by other crews before the war ended, pleted a conversion from a Mark Canadian Crown corporation In the spring of 1943 he was this point in the war. with the final taking place on X to a Mark 10MR created from the Malton branch assigned to No. 4 ITS (Initial April 25, 1945 in a raid on naval maritime reconnaissance and anti- of the Corpo - Training School) of the British defences at Wangerooge under submarine warfare aircraft. ration in November of 1942 as a Commonwealth Air Training the command of F/O Bonar. Unfortunately as she reached ‘shadow factory’, safe from Ger - Plan (BCATP) in Edmonton and Though the war in Europe was the landing field the aircraft man bombing. began his training to become a over, the war in the Pacific still stalled, ground looped and col - This facility would go on to pilot. raged and Lady Orchid and her lapsed her starboard landing gear build thousands of aircraft during After passing through a num - crew continued to train in prepa - as she impacted the runway. Ini - the war, including 430 Mk. X ber of training schools he was ration for deployment against tially it seemed that she was a Lancasters (Mk. X being the des - authorized to wear the Pilot’s Japan. From May 7 to June 7, total write-off, her centre section ignation for Mk. I Lancasters Flying Badge as F/O (Flying Of - 1945 the crew trained intensely. badly damaged. built in Canada). ficer) Jenkins, graduating from On May 10 they flew over With no known source of re - KB895 arrived in England in No. 3 Service Flying Training continental Europe one more time placement for such a large part March of 1945 and was initially School on Oct. 15, 1943. He as part of Operation Exodus, with known to exist in Canada at this issued to No. 428 (Ghost) would then complete a number Lady Orchid flying from Croft to time, as all the other Lancasters Squadron but was soon reissued of other courses before he was Juvincourt France for the purpose had been scrapped or converted to No. 434 (Bluenose) Squadron. posted to No. 434 Squadron in of ferrying Allied POWs back to for other duties, it seemed that Now all the aircraft needed was a Croft, Yorkshire, England on Westcott in England before re - FM213 would be doomed to crew and a pilot. Dec. 21, 1944. turning to Croft. It was also dur - never see active service. Ronald Henry Jenkins was He flew his first operation as ing this time that KB895 gained born in , , Canada second pilot over Paris on Jan. 28, Ron Jenkins in October 1943, after some more decorative touches. Thankfully, one of the men receiving his Pilot’s Flying Badge. who had helped to find and reac - on July 8, 1913. He grew up 1945 and was then assigned to an Photo courtesy of the Clarence Lady Orchid herself acquired quire many of the Lancasters that around his family’s grocery busi - aircraft and a permanent crew. Simonsen collection two red maple leaves on her upper had been sold off after World ness, and after graduating from F/O Jenkins and his new crew, torso, the aircraft’s prop spinners War Two during the post-war de - Mount Royal College in 1934 consisting of F/O Savage, F/O were painted roundel blue, the mobilization remembered one went to work in the family busi - Hines, W/O (Warrant Officer) As was the case with their first phrase “Jenkins’ Express” was possible source for this vital re - ness, Jenkins Groceteria, which McLean, F/Sgt (Flight Sergeant) aircraft, KB895’s squadron code painted on the right side of the placement part. by this point was growing into a Baird, Sgt Foss and F/Sgt letters were WL-O, so they named fuselage under the cockpit and tail It would be this event that very successful chain of stores Moodie, would begin flying op - the Lancaster “Wee Lady Or - gunner Bruce Baird painted the would cause the histories of two that would eventually include erations in early February and chid”. The entire crew partici - words “Bruce ‘Buster’ Slim” on Lancasters – one a Second World seven stores, a bakery, and a would go on to fly 11 missions pated in painting the nose art on the face of his turret. War veteran that had lain derelict wholesale branch. (February 3, 7, 19, 26, 27 and the aircraft and it was decided to It was now time to return in a farmers field for a number of In 1943 he left the company to March 2, 7, 8, 10, 14, 20) in a use the image of Lady Godiva rid - home. Lady Orchid and many low years and the other an aircraft that join the Royal Canadian Air British-built Lancaster Mk. I, PA ing a bomb and carrying two six- flight time Canadian-built Lan - had been built for war but seemed shooter pistols, the later part in casters that had been deployed to fated to never serve her country – honour of the western heritage of Europe were flown back to to intersect and allow FM213 to Jenkins’ home town of Calgary. Canada to join the RCAF’s con - not only go on to render many Jenkins painted the red L and tribution to Tiger Force (also years of service to her country but O on the aircraft and the rest of known as the Very Long Range also to survive to become an en - the crew completed the remain - Bomber Force), a large heavy during monument to the service der of the name and the artwork. bomber force that Britain planned of thousands upon thousands of During the painting it was de - to deploy against Japan after hos - men and aircraft that served RCAF Lancasters in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia after returning for Europe in cided to drop the prefix Wee from tilities ended with Germany. Canada during and after the great - 1945, Lady Orchid is second from the right. the name and the aircraft became est conflict in human history. Photo courtesy of the Clarence Simonsen collection known simply as Lady Orchid. • continued on next page 2 CWH FLIGHTLINES MAY 2016 Lancasters

• continued from previous page

Tiger Force was originally proposed during the News Briefs Conference in September of 1944 Anne Fran k - A History For Today and was to consist of 22 squadrons from the RAF, RCAF, The Canadian Warplane Her - of Holland and the prejudices RAAF (Royal Australian Air itage Museum is proud to present and discrimination that some Force) and RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force). Photograph taken by Bud Found of Lady Orchid at the Doan farm near the “Anne Frank - A History For Canadians faced, including Penhold, Alberta in 1952. Today” exhibit from the Anne those in the RCAF. The aircraft in the force would Photo courtesy of the CWHM and the Clarence Simonsen collection Frank House in Amsterdam. The story of Anne Frank and consist of Lancasters (which her life of hiding in the Secret would be replaced by Lin - Annex during the Second World colns once enough of them be - Demobilization, retirement Lady Orchid for $300 if he prom - War is a story of perseverance came available) and Consolidated With the end of the war ised to never try to obtain a Cer - and bravery. Living for almost Liberators and by mid-1945 it Canada’s military quickly began tificate of Airworthiness for the two years in hiding during the was planned that the units would to demobilize and with no immi - aircraft and if he agreed to sell Nazi occupation of Holland, she be based on Okinawa. nent or nearby enemy in sight it one of the Merlin engines to recorded her daily thoughts in a Canada was originally slated was decided that Canada had no SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute journal. Today, her journal is a to deploy four bomber wings need of a large long-range of Technology in Calgary) and testament to the prejudice that (Nos. 661, 662, 663, and 664) bomber force. one to NAIT (Northern Alberta Anne Frank was faced by so many during the with each wing consisting of two A small number of Lancasters Institute of Technology in Ed - Holocaust. squadrons and including in total were kept in RCAF service to be monton) for $100 each. Featuring the story of Anne The “Anne Frank – A History 141 Canadian-built Mk. X Lan - converted for various duties in - So on April 12, 1947 Ron pur - Frank and artifacts never before For Today” exhibit is open daily casters. cluding survey, search and res - chased KB895, but now he had to displayed in Canada. The ex - from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Au - The planned size of Tiger cue, training, and testing figure out how to move her off of hibit will also focus on gust 28, 2016. Regular admis - Force soon shrank to 10 purposes but it was decided that the storage facility at Penhold to Canada’s role in the Liberation sion rates apply. squadrons as the war in Europe most of the aircraft in Canada somewhere he could have the air - neared its end and the logistical would be put into storage. craft worked on. He soon learned realities of deploying such a Many of the newer Canadian through another friend who large force provoked an adjust - built Lancasters (the FM series) worked in real estate that there ment in thinking. KB895 left were be put into storage at active was a farmer by the name of Clif - Croft on June 7, 1945 and flew a RCAF bases while most of the ford Doan who had an interest in series of legs across the Atlantic remaining older Lancasters (the aviation and whose farm was with Jenkins and a ferry crew. KB series) would be put into long next to the storage facility. He The trip took a total of 10 days term storage at inactive bases contacted Doan and asked him if and included a delay of five days such as old BCTAP airfields. he would like to have what re - in Cornwall due to bad weather Lady Orchid was one of 83 mained of KB895 for free if he and two close shaves when the Canadian Lancasters transferred could move the Lancaster onto aircraft had one engine fail be - to Pearce, Alberta. Pearce had his property and work on remov - tween the Azores and Gander, served as a BCATP base during ing the various crew station parts. Newfoundland and again be - the war from March 1942 to Jan - They ended up cutting the tween Gander and Dartmouth, uary 1945 and had been home to fence between the property and Nova Scotia where she finally No. 36 Elementary Flying Train - the storage facility and then completed her journey home on ing School, No. 3 Air Observer towed Lady Orchid onto the farm. June 17, 1945. School and No. 2 Flying Instruc - Jenkins and some hired help then After her arrival she was as - tors School. set about removing the various Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum BCATP aircraft – Stearman, Tiger signed to No. 662 HB (heavy It now served as a storage parts, including the entire rear tur - Moth and two Cornells. Photo courtesy Kool Shots bomber) Wing. Jenkins quoted depot and scrap yard for the ret for tail gunner Bruce Baird one of the ferry crew, Rudy St and and the pilot instrument panel and Germain, in his pilot logbook became a temporary home for seat for himself. He then left what BCATP Fly-in adds weather date which encapsulates the feeling of many of the Lancasters before remained of her with Doan. the crew as they neared home: they moved onto long-term stor - The farmer considered turning BCATP Fly-in May 28, 2016 owners of BCATP-type aircraft “Flying the Atlantic alone - age or disposal. the aircraft’s fuselage into a ma - (Weather date May 29) to fly-in to the Canadian War - because in spite of others - you Lady Orchid was flown from chine shop and tool shed, but plane Heritage Museum on May feel alone, with the sun over you Dartmouth to Pearce via Toronto, after mounting the aircraft on Last year’s BCATP Fly-In was 28th. Along with our Museum’s and nothing between you and the Ontario and Gimli, and three cement columns he lost in - scrubbed due to bad weather. The large collection of BCATP air - sea but this man-made machine, arrived at Pearce on Sept. 8, terest in the project. As KB895’s schedule for 2016 allowed us to craft, we are anticipating one of a Lancaster, that once seemed so 1945. She would remain on gutted remains sat slowly decay - add a weather date in for the next the largest gatherings of “Yellow huge but is now dwarfed by the strength with the No. 2 Air Com - ing in rural Alberta, it seemed day. Birds” since World War II. immensity of space; yet is wing - mand at Pearce from Sept. 11, that Lady Orchid’s days of serv - One of Canada’s most distinc - Weather permitting, expect to see ing its way confidently towards 1945 until Jan. 22, 1947 when ice were over. tive contributions to the Second Finches, Tiger Moths, Harvards, some known place on the other she was struck off charge and World War was the British Com - etc. side of the world, the Azores, flown to Penhold, Alberta by F/L FM213 resurrected monwealth Air Training Plan Museum BCATP aircraft in - Newfoundland and finally good H Buocher and turned over to Like Lady Orchid, Lancaster (BCATP). The BCATP provided cluding the Tiger Moth, Stear - old Canada.” Crown Assets for final disposal. Mk. X FM213 was built at Vic - training facilities for all parts of man, Cornell and Harvard will be Having all returned to Canada, After mustering out of the tory Aircraft and was taken on the Commonwealth. available for ride-along flights Jenkins and his original crew RCAF, Ron Jenkins returned to strength with the RCAF on Aug. Building and operating a na - that day. were then given a well-deserved his hometown of Calgary. His fa - 21, 1945, but unlike Lady Orchid tionwide flight training school * * * 37 days leave before they would ther had passed away a few she was completed too late to was a complex task. In most Pilot information – the rejoin their unit for deployment months before the end of the war participate in the war in Europe cases, sights had to be chosen, BCATP Fly-in is restricted to to the Pacific. so he now took over the family’s or to be assigned to Tiger Force, land purchased and runways, owners and operators of only However, with the dropping of business and soon became a suc - so she was immediately put in hangars, barracks and other sup - BCATP type aircraft. There is no the atomic bombs on Hiroshima cessful businessman in his own storage at the RCAF base in port buildings needed to be con - aircraft parking available for and Nagasaki and Japan’s subse - right. Trenton, Ontario. structed. other type of fly-in aircraft on quent formal unconditional sur - In 1947 he heard through a With the dawning of the Cold During the frenzied building this particular day. render on Sept. 2, 1945, Tiger friend that his old Lancaster was War in 1950 Canada quickly re - activities at the start of the For the BCATP aircraft pilots, Force was no longer needed and up for sale and decided to pur - alized that there was a desperate BCATP, close to 120 airfields landing fees will be waived, the unit was disbanded on Sept. chase it so he could remove all of need for long range aircraft to pa - were constructed across the breakfast and mid-afternoon bar - 5, 1945. the instrument panels and seats trol the nation’s vast coastlines, country. The operation expanded becue will be provided. Avgas With the war now at an end, from the various crew stations so it was decided to convert ap - steadily ultimately employing will not be available. To confirm large-scale demobilization soon and send them to his crew as sou - proximately 70 Lancasters into more than 104,000 men and participation, contact either followed and KB895, along with venirs of their service together. maritime patrol and reconnais - women including almost 13,000 Laura Hassard-Moran at 905- most of the approximately 230 According to the transcript of sance aircraft. civilians. Lancasters in Canada, were an interview Jenkins did in 1975, 679-4183 ext. 236 or lhas - • continued on next page To recognize the importance [email protected] or Cam slated to be placed into storage. Crown Assets agreed to sell him of the British Commonwealth Air Harrod at 647-567-2376 or Training Plan, we are inviting [email protected].

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Printed as a supplement to COPA Flight Flightlines for the Canadian Published by Owners and Pilots Association and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. CWH FLIGHTLINES MAY 2016 3

Two Lancasters • continued from previous page A.V. Roe Canada (the com - who were looking for money to to her country. The government pany formerly known as Victory finance a prototype aircraft quickly contacted Clifford Doan Aircraft Limited before it was ac - (FBA-1A bush plane) for their and a salvage crew was dis - quired from the Canadian gov - fledgling company, remembered patched to Penhold to remove ernment by the that many Lancasters had been Lady Orchid’s centre section. in 1945) was contracted to sold off in Alberta and were soon Meanwhile a large was complete the conversion, but scouring the province for aircraft sent to Alberta to carry the huge many of the aircraft, including and parts. section to de Havilland Aircraft. FM213, ended up being con - Eventually they found a total The section was mated with verted by de Havilland Aircraft of of 50 complete airframes plus FM213 in July of 1953 and on Canada in Downsview, Ontario. extra Merlin engines and a huge August 26, 1953 she was test A message from De Havilland was sub-con - amount of spare parts, much of flown and considered ready to be tracted to do the work due to the which they acquired from a returned to service. Chairman Christopher H. Freeman fact that A.V. Roe was heavily farmer from High River, Alberta By this time many of the mar - and committed to producing the new by the name of Albert Hoving. itime reconnaissance Lancasters CF-100 jet fighter aircraft and the He had purchased 44 air - were being replaced with newer C-102 Jetliner. frames, 20 Merlin engines and a types of aircraft so FM213 would President/CEO David G. Rohrer FM213 was removed from large collection of spares from be assigned to No. 107 RU (Res - The story of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s storage with nine other Lancast - Crown Assets with the intention cue Unit) in Torbay, Newfound - flying Lancaster, one of only two Lancaster aircraft still flying ers and dismantled, and then on of melting them all down for the land when she returned to service in the world today, is legendary to say the least. Aug. 28, 1950 the ten aircraft aluminum and then selling it for and was given the squadron code From 1977 when the RCAF FM 213 was first acquired from were shipped to de Havilland. By the manufacture of pots and pans. VC-AGS which was later the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich, Ontario with the help January 1952 FM213’s conver - The brothers ended up pay - changed to CX 213. of the Sulley Foundation to 1988 when it was first flown after sion to a Mark 10MR configura - ing Hoving approximately She would serve with this unit being fully restored as the “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster” tion was complete. $1,000 per aircraft, but then sold for about 10 years as a search KB726 VR-A, to today having successfully flown the aircraft for and rescue aircraft. Most of her 27 years in museum flight operations; the Lancaster continues time was spent patrolling the At - to be the worthy recipient of thousands of museum members lantic and responding to distress and supporters, who have all made this dream possible. calls but she also served as an es - Our Lancaster was built by Victory Aircraft in Malton, On - cort aircraft three separate times tario in 1945, at the current site of Lester B. Pearson Interna - for aircraft carrying members of tional Airport by fellow Canadians and is the crown jewel of the royal family to Canada in the museum collection. Over the last 27 years this iconic air - 1957 and 1958, helped escort craft has been flown in memory of the thousands of Canadian RCAF fighters deploying to Eu - airmen, ground crew, and civilian workers at home who served rope during Operation Jump our country in time of need and has inspired many new gen - Moat IV in June, 1958, and erations of Canadians to learn about this era of sacrifice. would call on Greenland, Ice - In 2014 we successfully completed a seven-week “UK Lanc land, Scotland and the Azores Tour” and united the last two airworthy Lancasters in the world during her travels over the years. in a “Once in a Lanc Time” aerial display and salute to the Lady Orchid’s centre section after its removal. On Nov. 6, 1963 she was fi - Bomber Command Veterans, both past and present. Photo courtesy of the CWHM and the Clarence Simonsen collection nally retired from service and As such our Lancaster VR-A was the last Lancaster to fly was sent into storage in Dunville, the North Atlantic and although she was 69 years old, per - Ontario. She was finally struck formed flawlessly on the Trans-Atlantic flights. After flight testing she was the Lancasters they found in Al - off charge on June 30, 1964. Thanks to supporters such as yourself we have been able designated VC-AGJ and assigned berta to the Canadian Govern - FM213 would remain stored to overhaul three of the Packard Merlin 224 engines over the to No. 405 MR Squadron in ment for $10,000 per aircraft. in Dunville, Ontario until she was past few years and make provisions to replace all four pro - Greenwood, Nova Scotia. But Needless to say the Found purchased by the Royal Canadian pellers as and when due. after the crash landing at Trenton, Brothers got their project off the Legion Branch 109 in Goderich, This year we need to overhaul the 4th engine which is near - Ontario on Jan. 24, 1952 it ground and the Canadian gov - Ontario for approximately ing the end of its normal operating life. Fortunately the mu - seemed that her short-lived career ernment found that they were $1200-$1300. She was flown seum already has all the professional contacts and normal was over and she would be seriously regretting selling off down to Sky Harbour Airport in business relationships in place with the two engine overhaul doomed to be scrapped for spare the aircraft for $400 each only a Goderich on June 14, 1964 be - facilities that have the capability to overhaul these V12 en - parts. few years previously. fore being officially struck off gines and we will be able to operate VR-A throughout the The RCAF would have a total Found Brothers Aviation charge in the RCAF and was planned overhaul sequence, but the cost of this engine over - of approximately 100 Lancasters would go onto build a number of soon mounted on three pylons haul and specialty work is significant. converted to various configura - different types of bush planes outside the Legion. With your continued faithful financial support and special tions after the war, but when the throughout the 1950s and 1960s After remaining on display donations in support of the “Lancaster Engine Overhaul Pro - Canadian government made the before the company finally outside Branch 109 for 13 years, gram” we can raise the funds necessary to keep VR-A in our decision to convert a large num - closed in late 1968. it was realized that the legion Canadian skies for many, many years to come. ber of Lancasters as a quick way It would be Bud Found who could no longer afford the cost of I hope you will please help us by saying yes to this funding to build a maritime patrol force in would now help save FM213 as maintaining the aircraft and they appeal and that you will also know that by doing so, you are a 1950, they soon realized that the well. By 1952 all the remaining began looking to sell her. It was very important part of the continuing legacy of VR-A and her Air Force had nowhere near the serviceable Lancasters that were at this point that the Canadian flying salute to perhaps the “Greatest Generation of Canadi - number of aircraft needed re - left in Canada had been con - Warplane Heritage Museum, ans” to ever serve our country. maining in their inventory. verted to various new configura - which had been searching for a Thank you most sincerely Though the RCAF still had tions or had long since been Lancaster to restore, looked over some of the newer FM series scrapped, so when the accident to the FM213 and realized it was an Lancasters in storage, most of the FM213 occurred the RCAF knew excellent candidate for restora - For donations of $250 or higher you will receive a replica 230 that were on strength in 1945 of no remaining Lancaster air - tion to flying condition. of the data plate which is on the engine that is awaiting over - had been sold off by Crown As - frames in Canada that could be Initially the two parties could haul. sets during the latter half of the used to repair the aircraft. not reach an agreement on ac - 1940s. The Canadian government However Bud Found remem - quiring the Lancaster but it was For the first eight donations of $5,000 or greater you will soon found that it needed to buy bered that during the brothers’ at this point that Bruce Sully, a receive a mounted Merlin 224 V12 cylinder and plaque from back many of the aircraft they hunt for aircraft in Alberta they successful Goderich business - the engine which flew on VR-A as the last Lancaster to fly had just disposed of and began had seen a derelict Lancaster on man, agreed to create a scholar - the North Atlantic when she crossed the Atlantic eastbound searching for airworthy airframes a farm in Penhold that was too far ship trust fund for children of the on August 5-8, 2014 and returned flying westbound on Sep - and parts. gone to be a candidate for restora - legion members through his tember 23-28, 2014. Soon after the announcement tion and conversion, but he be - foundation in exchange for the that Canada would be returning a lieved that the centre section legion donating FM213 to the Visit warplane.com large number of Lancasters to could be salvaged and used to Canadian Warplane Heritage and click on “Donate Today” service N.K. “Bud” and S.R. save FM213. Museum. on the lower left of the screen “Mickey” Found of Found Lady Orchid would now be al - Brothers Aviation in Malton, lowed to render one more service • continued on page 6 4 CWH FLIGHTLINES MAY 2016 CWH FLIGHTLINES MAY 5 CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE SSpringpring IIntnt MUSEUM

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At left: Mynarski Memorial Lanc, Lancaster FM213 in flight VeRA, gets new nose art during her time arly on during the with No. restoration of the 107 RU in Canadian War - the early 1960s. pElane Heritage Museum’s AEvro Lancaster FM213, Photo it was decided that the courtesy aircraft would be painted of the in the markings of P/O CWHM Andrew Mynarski who flew with RCAF No. 419 (Moose) Squadron. Andrew Mynarski was awarded missions, there wasn’t much more in - the , the Common - formation available about its history. Lancasters • continued from page 3 wealth’s highest award for gallantry, The new temporary scheme on June 13, 1944, when his Lancaster proved to be popular with museum On July 1, 1977 the museum officially ac - Space Museum of Calgary for restoration. was shot down in flames, by a Ger - visitors, photographers and even the quired FM213. On Nov. 5, 1979, after two She is now on display at the museum in the man night fighter. media. VR-A markings were back on years’ work dismantling and preparing her guise of Lady Orchid as a memorial to Cana - As the bomber fell, he attempted the Lancaster in time for the historic for transport, No. 450 Hel (Helicopter) dians and Albertans who served in Bomber to free the tail gunner trapped in the UK trip in August of 2014. Squadron transported the main body of the Command in the Second World War and to rear turret of the blazing and out of Following up on the popularity of aircraft to the CWH Museum at the Hamilton Ron Jenkins. There is also a reproduction of control aircraft. The tail gunner the “Ropey” paint scheme change, re - International Airport. Lady Orchid’s nose artwork painted by miraculously survived the crash and search began to find a suitable 2015 After nearly a decade of restoration work Clarence Simonsen in the nose art gallery at lived to tell the story, but sadly An - temporary scheme but this time one FM213 returned to the skies on Sept. 11, the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, drew Mynarski died from his severe that offered up a more in depth story 1988. She now wore the colours and desig - Alberta. burns. for the museum to tell. It didn’t take nation of KB726 VR-A of No. 419 (Moose) Ron Jenkins not only became a multi- FM213 didn’t receive her new long for KB732 to jump to the front Squadron as a memorial to P/O (Pilot Offi - millionaire after the war but was a great paint scheme of KB726, VR-A until of the line. cer) Andrew Mynarski (RCAF) who posthu - community leader as well, having served as 1988 but in 1984, was officially ded - KB732, VR-X, “X-TERMINA - mously won the Victoria Cross on a raid the CEO, President or General Manager of ap - icated to the memory of Andrew My - TOR” was arguably the greatest of all night of June 12-13 1944 over Cambrai. proximately 20 companies and organiza - narski at a ceremony that included of the Canadian built Lancasters, FM213 in the guise of VeRA is now an tions including the Chamber of Commerce, several of the original Mynarski crew. completing more operational flights enduring memorial to those who served in the Rotary Club, the Canadian National In - From that time forward, the Cana - against the enemy than any other Bomber Command in World War Two and stitute for the Blind, the YMCA and the dian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Canadian Lancaster (84 missions). one of only two Lancasters in the world that Calgary Stampede. He passed away on Lancaster was known as the “My - The museum even tracked down the have been restored to flying condition. April 30, 1976. narski Memorial Lancaster” until last known surviving crew member KB895 also lives on today. In the summer After his passing a number of his 2014 when it picked up the nickname of “X-TERMINATOR”, Don Mc - of 2011, the Aero Space Museum of Calgary wartime artefacts were donated to the Aero VeRA for the UK tour, but that’s an - Taggart, and surprised him with a completed the static restoration of the Lan - Space Museum of Calgary, including the other story. Lancaster flight in “his” markings. caster in their collection, FM136. She was an - pilot’s seat and instrument panel that he had During the eighties, original VR- * * * other Mark X / Mark 10MR conversion that removed from Lady Orchid many years be - A pilot Art de Breyne often visited With only 10.5 hours on the air - served in No. 32 MU (Maintenance Unit), fore. The instrument panel would later be Hamilton airport to check on the frame, Lancaster FM213 was heavily No. 419 B (Bomber), No. 404 MP (Maritime installed in FM136 during the aircraft’s progress of the restoration. Upon see - damaged when the undercarriage col - Patrol) and No. 407 MR Squadrons during restoration. ing the Lancaster for the first time lapsed at Trenton during a 1951 ferry her time in the RCAF, and Ron Jenkins had a Over the past few years the Canadian painted as “his” aircraft – KB726, flight to its latest assignment at hand in preserving her as well. Warplane Heritage has honoured famous VR-A, he was both honoured that the Greenwood, Nova Scotia with No. In 1962 a group led by Lynn Garrison Canadian Lancaster bombers by adding Lancaster was now a living memorial 405 Squadron. The centre section found FM136 in relatively good shape in their nose art to FM213. This year the mu - to one special man and sad for all the was badly damaged and the aircraft storage in Fort Macleod, Alberta and pur - seum will honouring this incredible story untold stories of the many other was almost considered unsalvage - chased her for $975 in the hopes of display - by painting Lady Orchid’s nose art on crews who did not survive. able. ing the aircraft at the Calgary airport as a war VeRA and allowing her to fly again – a fit - For over 25 years now, visitors to However, a replacement centre memorial. ting tribute considering that one of the the Canadian Warplane Heritage Mu - section was located in Penhold, Al - He faced quite an uphill battle due to lack major reasons FM213 is still flying is due seum have come to see, hear and berta from Lancaster KB895 – a of local support but in the end, with the help to the piece of Lady Orchid she carries to even fly in the “Mynarski Memorial wartime veteran with 35 missions. of a few local political, business, and media this day. Lancaster” as well as learn about An - After the repairs were completed, leaders (including Ron Jenkins), Garrison The Lady Orchid paint scheme will be drew Mynarski and his heroic at - FM213 could be considered a hybrid managed to get the project completed. debuted next month at the Flyfest weekend tempt to save tail gunner, Pat Brophy. of sorts – part FM213 and part FM136 remained mounted on a pedestal on June 18 and 19 at the Canadian Warplane During this time, the paint scheme KB895. at the airport for 30 years until she was trans - Heritage Museum and will remain until the has remained as VR-A, except for the This tie-in makes it the perfect ferred from the City of Calgary to Aero end of the summer. odd television or movie appearance choice for the temporary paint that necessitated some very temporary scheme for the summer of 2016, markings. Unlike the Battle of Britain while the original Mynarski scheme Acknowledgements Memorial Flight who change their remains on the starboard side. The author would aircraft paint schemes every few KB895 was known as “Lady Or - like to acknowledge the years, the Canadian Warplane Her - chid” and had nose art that featured generous assistance re - itage Museum rarely change schemes. a blonde lady straddling a big black ceived from the follow - Over the years, there had been bomb as she holds two black pistols. ing sources: the some interest in possibly changing With so many Canadian Lan - Canadian Warplane the markings, which was met with re - caster wartime schemes to choose Heritage Museum, the sistance – and rightfully so. However, from – Ruhr Express, Sugar’s Blues, Bomber Command these days museums need to remain Rabbit Stew, Piccadilly Princess to Museum Nanton, the relevant and be able to engage the name a few – there are many years Aero Space Museum of general public. of history to portray while fulfilling Calgary, Elinor Flo - In June of 2014, VR-A was tem - part of the museum’s mandate to rence, and especially porarily transformed into VR-R, house supportive exhibits in tribute Clarence Simonsen KB772, “Ropey” with the eye- catch - to the thousands of men and women whose books, articles ing shark teeth painted on the engine who built, serviced and flew these and other research were nacelles. Although the original aircraft and in memory of those who invaluable resources in “Ropey” survived the war with 65 did not return. FM213 flypast on arrival to Goderich Airport in 1964, the last time she the writing of this fasci - would fly until 1988. Photo courtesy of the CWHM nating story. CWH FLIGHTLINES MAY 2016 7 Triumph over adversity – Rise Above!

ut yourself in the cockpit and soar above the clouds in your own P-51 Mustang as you step inside a traveling im - mersion exhibit featuring the original film, Rise Above , oPn a 160-degree panoramic screen in a 30-seat temperature-con - tProlled movie theater. The Rise Above Traveling Exhibit highlights the courage and determination of the Tuskegee Airmen, who overcame obstacles to train and fight as U.S. Army Air Corps pilots, and what it means to us 60 years later. The Rise Above Traveling Exhibit is making its first-ever visit to Canada – at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The Commemorative Air Force’s P-51D Mustang is also flying in to be displayed with the exhibit from August 24 to 28, this summer.

Above: On Saturday, August 27th, CWH welcomes the Rise Above Traveling Exhibit. We are also hoping to have some Tuskegee Veterans in attendance. Far right: Commemorative Air Force’s Red Nose Rise Above Traveling Exhibit P-51D Mustang.

Development Celebrate Lancaster Day July 9, 2016 njoy a day at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Mu - Office update seum and celebrate our iEconic Canadian-built Avro Lan - cEaster. By Pamela Rickards, Vice President - Operations As a special offering, each paid admission (Adult and Senior What an exciting start to the year here at our museum! We only) that day will receive a have had some very successful trade shows at our facility which has brought many new visitors to our museum. chance to win a flight in the Lan - We also have a travelling exhibit from the Anne Frank museum caster that day – the draw takes in Amsterdam which is becoming very popular. It will be here at place at 2 p.m. with the flight at the museum until August so if you have the opportunity to drop 3 p.m. The winner must be onsite in and visit us please make time to view this impressive display. when the draw takes place. We have, unfortunately, lost a few of our members and sup - Mark Peapell’s presentation Featuring porters over the last number of months and I would like to take “The Malton Lankys” will be an - Mark Peapell’s this opportunity to say how much we appreciate the bequests that other highlight of the day. The we have, and continue, to receive from people who consider production of the 430 Lancaster presentation Canadian Warplane Heritage in their planned giving. These gen - aircraft at Malton, Ontario, was A Lancaster on the production line at Victory “The Malton erous donations enable the museum to continue with our man - the largest wartime aircraft pro - Aircraft in Malton, Ontario. Lankys” date to preserve and maintain this vital part of Canada’s rich gram in Canada. For a country Photo courtesy Aerospace Heritage aviation heritage. that was largely agrarian and re - Foundation of Canada I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have covering from the Depression, the once again contributed to our “Keep us Flying” campaign this year building of the Lancaster bomber and if you have not yet contributed please read the message from was a huge accomplishment. the President/CEO and the Chairman to understand our request A workforce of over 9,000, for financial assistance for our Lancaster. Your financial support would lay the foundation that is very important to us and is very much appreciated. would lead to Canada’s first jet With the many events that are held here at the museum, I airliner, the CF-100 and ulti - would like to suggest that you bookmark our website www.war - plane.com and visit regularly to keep up-to-date on the happen - mately the Arrow. This well illus - ings here at Mount Hope. trated presentation tells the story Our secure on-line shopping section can accept new member - of building the Canadian Lan - ships, membership renewals and donations electronically. caster. An untold story that in - Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is proud to recognize volves all Canadian staples, those supporters who have made significant contributions to our including hockey and politics. Museum of the past few months and we are thrilled to add the You can tour inside the Lan - following to our donor walls: caster (minimum $5 donation) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark “Wings of Gold” Major Donor Wall – $25,000 - $49,999 Peapell’s presentation, “The Mal - Steve Dobrus ton Lankys” is at 1 p.m. in the Dome. The draw for the Lan - “Friends of Flight” Memorial Hangar Doors – caster flight will take place at 2 $1,000 - $4,999 p.m. in the Dome, with the Lan - In Memory of Roy Hammel, Nov. 3, 1938 – Dec. 17, 2015 caster flight taking place at 3 p.m. We are also encouraging as “Friends of Flight” Donor Wall – $500 many Lancaster crew Veterans to Lois Aileen Menzies Tressam Brown attend as possible. They will re - In Memory of Greg Morton – RAF Enthusiast ceive free admission for them - Les Anderson, RCAF (Wireless), 426/431 Sq. DFC, selves and two guests. Contact – Love Aunt Pat & Family Erin Napier at 905-679-4183 ext. Life Members now include: 245 or [email protected] to re - Barbara Maisonneuve ceive VIP parking. Regular admission rates apply 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 8 CWH FLIGHTLINES MAY 2016 O.B. and my father

By Ted Lowrey

ach year the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, based in Alberta, inducts nEew members to its list of those wEho have contributed to Cana - dian aviation history. On June 4, 2015 the induction ceremony was held in Toronto, at Pearson Airport. One of the four new inductees was a past RCAF member who has visited our CWH Museum both as a senior official, and just as a family friend. During WW II this visitor was a Dakota pilot in the Far East; (my father was the Dakota navi - gator). Perhaps what was really important to these two men was O.B. Philp (above left, and below, on the right) and Jack Lowrey by our that they were golfing buddies – CWH Dakota, in 1993 (They flew the original KN456). any time, any place, any course, Photos courtesy Ted Lowrey whenever they had a chance. The man named to the Hall of Fame – the late Colonel (ret’d) book shows 705:35 hours for the O.B. Philp, CM, DFC, CD. Al - complete tour. though O.B. had a long and var - On our tour of the museum, at ied career in the Canadian Air one point I noticed my father and Force the award was given on the O.B. at the tail of our Dakota, The picture from the Hall of Fame induction – O.B. Philp and Jack talking quietly, laughing, talking basis of him being the driving Lowrey in Burma, in 1945. Photo courtesy the Philp family spirit behind the founding of the quietly again, and laughing some Canadian aerobatic more. Later I asked O.B. what team, – “the Father of the Snow - headed to a golf course, and en - I was able to persuade that conversation was about. He birds”. joyed golfing with each other. the two men to take one told me how beginning Aug. 24, A number of years ago, when They played the Royal Edin - afternoon away from the 1945, Canadian squadrons 435 the Snowbirds appeared at a burgh course. In the Far East, golf course so the three and 436 started to return their CWH Airshow, O.B. was on site when on leave in Calcutta, they of us could visit the Dakotas from their bases in India for the show. Who did he invite to played the Royal Calcutta Golf CWH Museum. I clearly and Burma to England – Down CWH as his special guest? – Fly - Course. remember walking into Ampney for their aircraft – so the ing Officer (ret’d) Jack Lowrey, As late as 1993, when O.B. the old hangars (that Dakotas could be reassigned and his WW II Dakota navigator, and and his wife Maeve, flew from were then our museum), continue being used. The flight to my father. their home in to seeing all the aircraft, England was to take seven days. O.B. and my father first flew , so that O.B. could be - and asking O.B. how Their flight took 11 days because together Jan. 14, 1944, in a Ven - come a Member of the Order of many of them he could there were cities that their Dakota tura, at Pennfield Ridge, New Canada, the return trip included a fly. He took a few min - “made them stop at.” Then O.B. Brunswick. My father’s personal stop at my parents’ house in An - utes, considered each air - said to me very quietly “You diary also notes that location as caster, for the better part of a craft, and then said to me know your father wouldn’t ever their first game of golf together. week, so that the two men could “All of them” (The mu - tell you this.” From that point on, wherever in continue golfing at my father’s seum had 22 different aircraft on Dakotas). His logs also showed I hope you enjoy the snapshots the world they were stationed, course, the Hamilton Golf and site at that time). 8,246 hours flown. Some of that of O.B. and my father taken in when they were on leave, they Country Club. When O.B. retired from our time was in the Far East with my 1944-’45 and 1993. Air Force his log books showed father and the other two crew he’d piloted 79 different military members, Freddie and Les. They aircraft (There were only two flew a complete tour – 700 O.B. passed away in 1995. Up with my father – Oxfords and hours – there. My father’s log early and getting ready for work, I heard the news on the radio. I called my father to tell him the sad news (It’s always best to hear of the loss of a dear friend from someone close to you). My father passed away in 1997. A few weeks after his death I got a letter of sympathy from Maeve Philp. She wrote, “You should know that your father is up in heaven now, with O.B.; they’re on the first tee of the Ce - lestial Golf Course figuring out who’s going to hit first.” I felt better. I knew where my father was, and that he was with an old and dear friend, doing Jack Lowrey putting on the 14th hole at the Royal Calcutta Golf Course – Traffic flows smoothly on the streets of Rawilpindi, India - September, 1944. something that they had always so April, 1945. Photo courtesy the Lowrey family Photo courtesy the Lowrey family much enjoyed doing – together.