Date: 13th June 1944
Unit: No. 419 (Moose) Squadron
Type: Lancaster X
Serial: KB726
Coded: VR-A
Location: Gaudiempre, France
Pilot: P/O Arthur De Breyne R.C.A.F. Evaded capture
Nav: Sgt. R.E. Vigars POW (Camp L7, POW No: 244)
Fl/Eng: F/O. A.R. Body R.C.A.F. Evaded capture
W/Op: Sgt. J.W. Friday R.C.A.F. POW (Camp L7, POW No: 214)
M/U/Gnr: W/O2. Andrew Charles Mynarski J/87544 V.C. R.C.A.F. Age; 27, Died of injuries received.
Bmr/A/ Gnr: W/O2 W. James Kelly R.C.A.F. Evaded capture
R/Gnr: F/O. G.P. Brophy R.C.A.F. Evaded capture
REASON FOR LOSS:
KB726 Lancaster took off at 21.44 hrs from Middleton St. George. Engines destroyed by devastating canon fire from a JU-88 German night-fighter and the hydraulic lines caught fire in the rear fuselage.
The following details are given in the London Gazette of October 11th, 1946:-
P/O Mynarski was the mid-upper gunner of the crew of a Lancaster attacking Cambrai, France on June 12th, 1944.
The aircraft was hit by an enemy fighter; both port engines failed, extensive fire broke out, and the captain ordered the crew to abandon the plane.
As P/O Mynarski moved towards the escape hatch he saw that the rear gunner could not leave his turret, which was rendered immovable when the hydraulic gear was put out of action by the failure of the port engine. The Pilot Officer unhesitatingly moved back through the flames and tried to release the gunner, although his own clothing and parachute were on fire. All his efforts to move the turret and free his comrade were in vain, and eventually the gunner told him to try to save his own life. Reluctantly P/O Mynarski moved to the escape hatch and there, as a last gesture, turned towards the trapped gunner, stood to attention in his flaming clothing, and saluted before jumping. French people watched his descent and he was eventually found, but was so badly burned that he died.
The rear gunner escaped miraculously when the plane crashed and testified that, but for his gallant rescue attempt, P/O Mynarski could have left the aircraft in safety and would doubtless have escaped death. Although he must have been aware that he faced almost certain death, P/O Mynarski courageously and willingly accepted the danger. He lost his life by a most conspicuous act of heroism which called for valour of the highest order.
Note:
The AIrcrew Remembrance Society had been in contact up until his death, the pilot of the JU-88. (See photo below) We also have some correspondence from him regarding this combat. (See link)
Crew of KB726, From left to right: Pat Brophy, Jim Kelly, Roy Vigars, Art de Breyne, Andy Mynarski, Jack Friday, Bob Bodie.
Above left: Pilot P/O Arthur De Breyne right: Air/Bomber W/O 2 W. James Kelly (King A.R. Society archives)
W/O2. Andrew Charles Mynarski V.C. and his monument in Canada.
The demise of KB726
Heinz Reuter
To read the correspondence from Heinz Reuter to the Aircrew Remembrance Society please click here.
Burial details:
Crew all survived apart from Andrew Mynarski.
W/O2. Andrew Charles Mynarski V.C. Meharicourt Communal Cemetery Brit. Plot. Grave 40
Son of Anna Mynarski, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 4". The Commonwealth Graves Commission
