Andrew Mynarski

Andrew Charles Mynarski was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 14 October 1916. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 and trained as an air gunner. By June 1944 he was serving as a Pilot Officer with No. 419 “Moose” Squadron, RCAF, flying as the mid-upper gunner in an Avro Lancaster bomber.

On the night of 12–13 June 1944, Mynarski’s Lancaster was taking part in an attack on the railway yards at Cambrai, France. During the mission the aircraft was attacked from below and astern by a German night fighter. Both port engines failed, fire broke out in the wing and fuselage, and the flames quickly spread between the mid-upper and rear turrets. The captain ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft.

As Mynarski made his way to the escape hatch, he saw that the rear gunner, Flying Officer George “Pat” Brophy, was trapped in his turret. The hydraulic system had failed and the manual gear had also been broken during Brophy’s attempts to escape. Instead of leaving the burning aircraft, Mynarski turned back and forced his way through the flames to reach him.

By the time he reached the rear turret, Mynarski’s parachute and clothing were on fire. He fought desperately to free Brophy, but the turret would not move. Brophy finally signalled that nothing more could be done and urged Mynarski to save himself. Reluctantly, Mynarski went back through the flames to the escape hatch. Before jumping, he turned toward his trapped comrade, stood to attention, and saluted.

Mynarski escaped by parachute, but his parachute and clothing were burning as he descended. He was found by French civilians, but died from his severe burns shortly afterwards. Miraculously, Brophy survived when the Lancaster crashed and later testified that Mynarski had given up his own chance of survival in the attempt to save him.

For his courage and self-sacrifice, Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. His citation stated that he had acted with “outstanding courage and complete disregard for his own safety” and that his conduct called for “valour of the highest order.”