Huron-Perth Boomers Fall 2020

HISTORY
by John Melady
Many people who saw it on that pedestal at Goderich still
marvel at the size of the plane; it was almost 70 feet long,
and had a wingspan of over 100 feet, and, because of that
size, it was capable of carrying the largest bombs. The
aircraft also had an amazing range for the time – about
2,500 miles, which enabled it to carry great ordinance
loads deep into enemy territory before attempting to
return to the UK.
Canadians from all over flew in the Lanc during the war,
including Jake Cornish, of Brucefield, who was attached
to the Australian Air Force and was the only survivor
when the plane he was in was shot down over Holland.
He was 22 at the time.
The Lancaster was probably the most well-known Allied
bomber of the Second World War. Its four Merlin engines
were loved as much for their unique sound as for their
efficiency. I am lucky enough to have heard them, and
some time ago was thrilled to fly in the Lancaster during
an appearance at an Air Force Day at CFB Trenton. I
recall climbing into the aircraft, and knowing at the time
that this was the same plane that intrigued so many on
that pylon at Goderich. I was in the cockpit that day, and
even had the chance to look out the mid upper-gunner’s
position on the roof of the plane. However, because of
cloud cover I was unable to see anything from there. I did
remember Mynarski and thought of the valiant sacrifice
he made that night, so many decades ago.
During the Second World War, the Lancaster was the
plane that was instrumental in the destruction of the Ruhr
dams in May 1943. This was the well-known ‘Dambuster’
operation. It also participated in the sinking of the great
German battleship Tirpitz in November 1944. Both feats
were as extraordinary as they were disheartening for the
Axis enemy.
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