Andrew Mynarski VC: His Life and Service
Andrew Mynarski lost his life trying to the save the life of fellow crew member Pat Brophy. This story looks at his life, military service, and legacy in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
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Mynarski's Home Upon Enlistment
Andrew Mynarski was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 14, 1916. He played baseball, football, swimming, and hockey.
He lived at 846 Manitoba Ave when he enlisted in the RCAF.
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Mynarski Early Life in Winnipeg
He attended King Edward School on Selkirk Ave. The name plaque of the school that Mynarski attended is still on the school grounds.
He also attended the Isaac Newton School on Aberdeen Ave.
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Mynarski's Work Before Enlistment
He worked as a furrier and chamois cutter at Dorfman Furriers at 374 Donald St from May 1936 to July 1940.
Mynarski also worked for Mr. A. Madic as a cutter from June to July 1941. He left this job to join the RCAF.
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Mynarski in the Canadian Army
He served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles from November 22 1940 to December 1940 as a conscript under the National Resources Mobilization Act. He trained with the Little Black Devils at Camp Shilo just outside Brandon, Manitoba.
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No 3 Bombing and Gunnery School
Mynarski learned to be an air gunner at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan school near Macdonald, Manitoba.
Today, the school is a farmer's field.
Mynarski IDRCAF Foundation
In the RCAF
Mynarski joined No. 419 Squadron RCAF, while it was stationed in England, in April 1944.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on June 11, 1944.
Mynarski and Crew of KB726RCAF Foundation
The Crew of Lancaster KB726
From left to right: F/O Pat Brophy (rear gunner), P/O Jim Kelly (wireless operator), F/S Roy Vigars (flight engineer), F/O Officer Art de Breyne (pilot), P/O Andrew Mynarski (mid-upper gunner), P/O Jack Friday (bomb aimer), and F/Officer Bob Bodie (navigator).
Andrew Mynarski Heritage Minute
A dramatic retelling of the action on the night of June 12-13 1944, for which Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The Story of Mynarski's Victoria Cross
The details of Mynarski's Victoria Cross citation give us important sight into his heroic action and last moments of his life.
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Meharicourt Communal Cemetery
Mynarkski was seen by French civilians falling from the sky on fire. He died quickly after he landed. Brophy survived the crash and later gave the details of Mynarski's heroic action.
Mynarski Headstone
The epitaph on his headstone reads:
IN MEMORY
HE WILL ALWAYS LIVE
EVER REMEMBERED
BY MOTHER AND FAMILY
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Andrew Mynarski V.C. School
This school is named after Mynarski. It opened in September 1955. An opening ceremony in November 1955 was attended by Mynarski’s mother, and five of the six aircrew members, including Pat Brophy. The school is in the Mynarski subdivision.
The school's mascot is the Lancaster.
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A Hero's VC at Home
Mynarski's Victoria Cross is on display in the entrance foyer at the Mynarski Memorial Room of 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg.
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Mynarski Staute in Winnipeg
A bronze statue of Mynarski was unveiled on June 12 2015. It is located in Vimy Ridge Park in central Winnipeg.
The RCAF during the Second World War
To learn more about Canada's bombing role in the Second World War, check out the RCAF Foundation Google Arts & Culture Story "The Royal Canadian Air Force in The Vale of York"
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/KAUhQ-z_jskeaA
Sources
Andrew Mynarski Statue (Vimy Ridge Park, Winnipeg)
https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/mynarski_ac.shtml
Andrew Mynarski Service Record
Library and Services Canada Item ID number: 26336
Article on Andrew Mynarski from Canadian Encyclopedia
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/andrew-mynarski
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