Workers for Victory

  On Saturday August 2, Canadian Historical Aircraft Association ~ CH2A, had an open house at the Windsor Airport. The goal was to be a fund raiser for their many projects and bringing awareness of the rich history of flight in Windsor.

  On the go at CH2A is the process of rebuilding of a crashed Mosquito bomber to a static conditions and the restoration of a Lancaster as a static aircraft. On display was their Stearman and 2 DHC1 Chipmunks. All three were doing flight duty for the general public. As well there was a local Harvard and Tiger Moth on display.

  Michael Potter the founder of Vintage Wings Canada brought his Spitfire in from Gatineau. Upon arrival, he formed up with the Lancaster from Canadian Warplane Heritage, flying a couple of circuits around the city before landing at the airport. Warplane also sent Grumpy, their B-25 Mitchell.

  But there are other stories that took place here, it was the re-uniting of people and machines. Some of the people were the crew or family members of the 408 Squadron Lancaster Bad Penny. Bad Penny was the first aircraft that succeeded in Operation Manna. Operation Manna dropped food supplies to the people of Holland after the war. One of the many children that received some of the food from Bad Penny was also there.

  Another story was the re-uniting 2 sisters. The Hamilton based Lancaster FM 213 and the Windsor’s FM 212. Both aircraft were built side by side on production line of Victory Aircraft of Malton, ON. Neither saw action in the war as they were built near the end. FM 212 was converted to Mk.10P, an aero platform for photography and mapping of the north. FM 213 was converted to Mk 10MR and used as search and rescue aircraft. When they retired 1964, they were flown to RCAF Station Dunnville. Unlike many of the retired Lancasters that were sold of for scrap they were bought by groups. For around $1200 you could by a Lancaster. FM 213 was purchased by the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich, ON and put up a three leg pedestal and the City of Windsor purchased FM 212. The city had the plane shipped via a barge through Lake Erie and on its voyage it was almost lost in a violent storm. The plane would eventual find a home upon a pedestal surrounded by roses in Jackson Park. Today, in place of FM 212 at the park is a silhouette of a Lancaster on the ground with a fiberglass Spitfire and Hurricane on poles flying formation with the bomber.

  FM 213 was bought by Canadian Warplane and was flown from its home in Goderich under a Chinook helicopter to Hamilton. It was restored and became the Mynarski Lancaster, the only flying Lancaster in North America. It will be marking its 20^th Anniversary of restoration, this September. FM 212 is in stewardship with CH2A and it is currently being restored to its glory of a WWII Lancaster, the Bad Penny.