News.

 

The Wartime Memories Project are pleased to announce that the DVD "The Forgotten Hero", documenting the story of the Statue to Andrew Mynarski VC, which was unveiled at ex. RCAF Middleton St George in June, is now available.

The DVD tells a brief the history of RCAF Middleton St George, and the men who flew the hazardous missions, including inteviews with veterans, telling their experiences in their own words. The film provides a lasting record of these men whose numbers are slowly diminishing, invauable as an educational tool for the future. The story of Andrew Mynarski is retold, accompanied by a dramatic reconstruction of the events.

The story of the making of the 8 ft bonze statue is also told, with footage of the children's visit to Keith Maddison's studio, with an explaination of the method used and photographs taken at various stages of the sculpting process.

The casting and welding of the bronze, is set to Pie Jesu sung by Sarah Kelly accompanied by Middleton St George school choir in a beautifully emotional sequence.

The film also doucuments the arrival of the statue and it being lowered into place, watched by a few invited guests, recording the reactions of those who had been involved in this project from the start, as they saw the statue for the first time.

Also included is a question and answer session with Pat Brophy's two daughters, Collen Bacon and Sherry Sullivan, filmed when they visited the school and answered the childrens' questions about their father and their thoughts on the statue and unveiling ceremony.

There is also a very thought provoking interview with sculptor Keith Maddison and air historian Geoff Hill giving their thoughts and feelings having re-enacted the events, in full flying kit, which took place in the Lancaster on that night sixty years ago.

The film concludes with a series of short interviews giving thoughts on the completion of the project from those involved. On the second disc is the full unveiling ceremony with the flypast of the Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster.

The two disc set is priced at £11.99 plus P&P and is available online at:

http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/forgottenhero/

For each DVD sold £2 will be put towards the fund raising effort to have a copy of the statue made and erected in Mynarski's home town of Winnipeg, and the remainder of the profit, £2 will benefit Middleton St George Primary School.

Date posted: 11-12-2005

 

It is with much sadness & regret that I must inform you of the passing on of Bill Randall.

"RANDALL, Major (ret'd) C.D. B.A. Willard (Bill) Alexander - Peacefully at Henderson Hospital on Sunday, June 2, 2002. Beloved husband of Marjorie. Loving father of Michael, William, Stephen and Kerry. Loving grandfather of Jean-Michel, Julia, MacChala and Jack. Dear brother of Ethel. Bill was born February 7, 1924 in Swan River, Manitoba, Canada. He was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Airforce during the Second World War, and piloted an Avro Lancaster on missions through 1944-45. He was a teacher and principal for the Hamilton Board of Education until retirement in 1981. He was a senior officer in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and a member of the RHLI Senate. Bill was an avid naturalist, gardener, angler, historian, monarchist, and church and community leader. He was a member of many local, national and international organizations, including the Canadian Warplane Heritage (where he was also the Chairperson of the Lancaster Support Club), the St. George's Benevolent Society of Hamilton, the United Nations Association in Canada, the Council of Canadians, the Wartime Pilot's and Observers Association, the Imperial Officers' Association of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Head of the Lakes Historical Society, the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Association and Heritage Museum (and life member of the Officer's Mess), the Bomber Command Association (Canada), the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Canada's National History Society, the Halifax Aircraft Association, the Aircrew Association, the Nanton Lancaster Society, the Hamilton Naturalists Club, the Nature Conservancy, the Ontario Federation of Angler's and Hunters, the Conserver Society of Hamilton and District, the National Audubon Society, the Canadian Nature Federation, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, the Ancaster Horticultural Society, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the Sauble Angler's and Hunters Club, the Bruce Peninsula Sportsman's Association, the North American Fishing Club, the Toronto Entomologists Association, and the Hamilton Men Teacher's Choir. Bill was also a founding member, and a member of the parish council, of the Church of the Resurrection (Anglican Church of Canada). Visitation will be at UPPER JAMES CHAPEL of Cresmount Funeral Home, 1020 Upper James Street, Hamilton on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service to be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2002 at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, 435 Mohawk Road West, Hamilton. Cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam may be directed to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Society."

Date Posted: 2002-06-03

 

Earlier last year the Mynarski Lanc collided with the Dak up at Mount Hope. Little damage to the Lanc, but the Dak lost a starboard wing. I know the Lanc is up and flying again, but I don't know about the Dak.

I am planning on putting together some pages for any WWII Bomber Crew survivors that have any tales to tell and also some devoted to those that are no longer with us. Anyone interested in providing pictures & or information please send me an E-mail.

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