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Son of Anna Mynarski, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Brother of Stephanie. He was the son of Polish immigrants. He was educated at King Edward and Isaac Newton Elementary Schools and at St. John's Technical School. To help support his family after his father's death, he worked for four years as a leather worker in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Andrew Charles Mynarski was a quiet man with a good sense of humour. He enjoyed woodworking and loved to design and build furniture. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force just before his 25th birthday. He trained as an Air Gunner and was posted to Number 9 Squadron in October, 1943. In March, 1944, after training with No 1664 HCU he was posted to 419 (Moose) Squadron to fly Lancasters from RAF Middleton St George.
The crew took off for their 13th mission together on the night of June 12, their target, the rail marshalling yards at Cambrai, France. It would be the crew's 13th sortie. While waiting to go, the crew couldn't help but think of these omens. Andrew found a four leaf clover in the grass by the planes. He insisted that his closest buddy in the crew, tail gunner Pat Brophy, should take it.
After their plane was hit, and the crew bailed out, Andrew noted that his buddy, Pat Brophy was caught in the rear turret. He attempted to rescue him, now knowing that his parachute and clothing had caught fire. Realizing that he could not save his friend, he stood at attention and saluted Brophy and jumped. Brophy was blown safely away from the plane when some of the explosives on board blew on hitting the ground, Mynarski regretfully, hit the ground, but was burned so badly, died within hours.
Pilot Officer Mynarski was the first member of the R.C.A.F. to be decorated with the Victoria Cross in the Second World War. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg.
Pilot Officer Mynarski was honoured with the erection of a 10 foot bronze statue of his likeness at Middleton St. George, England; home to the 419 Squadron's 6th Bomber Group. On the 4th of June 2005 at a ceremony attended by the families of Mynarski's crew, the statue was unveiled. The Winnipeg Statue Project is gaining ground with donations,to erect a twin statue which will find its home in the North end corner of Winnipeg. The students and staff at Andrew Mynarski School,also raised funds to purchase a plaque to commemorate Pilot Officer Mynarski at their school.
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
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Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski
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In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 402 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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MEHARICOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY Somme, France
Meharicourt is a village and commune 32 kilometres east-south-east of Amiens and some 7 kilometres south of the road from that town to St. Quentin. The Communal Cemetery is on the north-western side of the village on the road to Rosieres.
In the north-eastern part of the cemetery, in a special British plot, are the graves of 41 airmen. Of these, 21 belonged to the Royal Air Force; 12 to the Royal Canadian Air Force; 6 to the Royal Australian Air Force and 2 to the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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