Andrew Charles Mynarski
Warrant Officer II, 419 Squadron. Royal Canadian Air Force
- Register No.
- 910 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Warrant Officer II (register: Pilot Officer) all Warrant Officer Class IIs →
- Unit
- 419 Squadron. Royal Canadian Air Force (register: No. 419 Squadron RCAF) all No. 419 Squadron RCAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 June 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 11th October 1946 on this day → all of 1946 →
- Born
- 14th October 1916 at Winnipeg, Canada
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Maharicourt Cemetery, Somme, France and at Mynarski Lakes, Manitoba, Canada
Digest of citation
Pilot Officer * Mynarski was the mid- upper gummer of a Lancaster that had been attacked by enemy fighters causing a fire in the aircraft. The captain gave orders for the crew to bale out and as Pilot Officer made his way to the escape hatch, he spotted the rear-gunner who was trapped in his turret. He made his way through the flames to the gunners aid, but despite his efforts to save him, he couldn't release him. He was eventually persuaded that nothing more could be done to help the gunner and by this time his own clothing was on fire. He made his way once more to the escape hatch and baled out. He was so badly burned, when he was found by the French, that he died of his injuries the following day. to Pilot Officer with effect from 11th June 1944
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MYNARSKI, Andrew Charles. (reg No. 910).
Warrant Officer II. 419 Squadron. Royal Canadian Air Force.
London Gazetted on 11th October 1946.
Born on 14th October 1916 at Winnipeg, Canada.
Died of his injuries on the 13th June, 1944 at Canbrai, France.
Memorial on grave at Maharicourt Cemetery, Somme, France and at Mynarski Lakes, Manitoba, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads: Pilot Officer * Mynarski was the mid- upper gummer of a Lancaster that had been attacked by enemy fighters causing a fire in the aircraft. The captain gave orders for the crew to bale out and as Pilot Officer made his way to the escape hatch, he spotted the rear-gunner who was trapped in his turret. He made his way through the flames to the gunners aid, but despite his efforts to save him, he couldn't release him. He was eventually persuaded that nothing more could be done to help the gunner and by this time his own clothing was on fire. He made his way once more to the escape hatch and baled out. He was so badly burned, when he was found by the French, that he died of his injuries the following day.
* At the time of the raid, he was unaware that he'd been promoted to Pilot Officer with effect from 11th June 1944
Updated:15.1.03
Alf's notes on his life
Updated:15.1.03
* At the time of the raid, he was unaware that he'd been promoted
Died of his injuries on the 13th June, 1944 at Canbrai, France.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Maharicourt Cemetery, Somme, France and at Mynarski Lakes, Manitoba, Canada
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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