Before the raid on Cambrai, the crew of Lancaster KB726 VR-A of 419 (Moose) Squadron were more apprehensive than usual. This would be their 13th mission, scheduled for the 13th of June. Feeling a little superstitious, Andrew Mynarski noticed a four leaf clover on the lawn before the trip and plucked it up. Laughingly, he handed it to Pat Brophy the tail gunner who threw it into his helmet without thinking twice.

The trapped tail gunner saw Andy Mynarski the mid-upper gunner making his way to the starboard rear door to bail out. He was just about to jump through the now open door when he glanced round and saw Pat still trapped in his turret. He turned from his open door and started the 15 feet trip down to Pat, crawling on his hands and knees over the horizontal tailplane spar straight through blazing hydraulic oil. By the time Andrew had reached him, his uniform and parachute were well alight. Ignoring his own condition, Andrew grabbed a fire axe and struggled in vain to free Pat Brophy.

By this time, the rest of the crew had safely bailed out and Pat and Andy were the only ones left in their doomed Lancaster.

The turret gave a little, but not enough. With desperation and pain Andrew fought to open the doors bare handed, but they wouldn't budge. Andrew was now a mass of flames from the waist down. Seeing his friend like that, Pat screamed for him to get out. Realizing that there was nothing else he could do. Andy reluctantly decided to leave. With no room to turn around, bulky parachute and all, he had to crawl backwards once again through the flames. Never losing eye contact and with a look of anguish on his face, he reached the escape hatch. Andrew, now in flaming clothes slowly stood to attention, saluted, said Goodnight Sir, and jumped. His clothing and parachute were burning, and as he fell, the flames were fueled by the fresh air and the flames intensified. His blazing descent was seen by a few French citizens, he survived the jump, but unfortunately died from the severe burns.

Now as Pat sat there alone with five tones of explosives fifty feet from him, in a Lanc that would hit the ground in seconds, he braced himself for the impact. As the aircraft came down in a steady glide, it hit a stout tree and spun round, this shot the rear turret round, the doors flew open and out shot Pat. He came to rest about fifty feet from the burning remains, against a tree alive and not a scratch to show for his ordeal. When he picked up his helmet, out of it fell the clover leaf.

All the crew of KB726 bailed out, Art de Breyne (Pilot), Roy Vigars (Flight Engineer), Jim Kelly (Wireless Operator), Jack Friday (Bomb Aimer), Bob Bodie (Navigator), and Andrew Mynarski (Mid-upper). Unfortunately, Andy had died from the severe burns to his body soon after he landed.

Upon returning to England after a term as a P.O.W. Pat Brophy, the only one to witness this selfless act of bravery, testified that if Andrew Mynarski had not attempted to save his life, he could have left the aircraft in safety and without doubt, would have escaped death. Andrew was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously on 11th October 1946.

"Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski V.C. lost his life by a most conspicuous act of heroism which called for valour of the highest order." The medal was presented to his mother, Mrs. Stanley Mynarski by the Right Honorable J.A. McWilliams, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba on 12th December 1946. Andrew Charles (Andy) Mynarski, V.C., was born at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on October 14, 1916. In 1944 he joined No. 419 Squadron, R.C.A.F where he completed 12 operational flights and had been promoted to Pilot Officer on June 11 two days before the Cambrai raid.