He is remembered as a Canadian, a solider, and a pilot. But he is most honoured in downtown Ottawa for the heroism that led to his death.
On the night on June 12, 1944, Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski’s Lancaster Bomber was shot down in France.
The plane caught fire after it was struck. The other 419 “Moose Squadron” soldiers jumped from the aircraft in attempt at survival. But Mynarski did not – at least not right away.
The 27-year-old from Winnipeg noticed that his good friend Patt Brophy was trapped in the gun turret at the back of the plane. Mynarski fought to free his friend, but the doors of the turret would not budge.
Brophy begged Mynarski to give up, and jump while he still could. With his parachute and clothes in flames, Mynarski walked to the door of the plane, saluted his friend, and jumped.
Mynarski died from the burns after he reached the ground. But, miraculously, Brophy lived to tell the story. The flaming aircraft crashed into a tree, which broke the turret doors open, and ejected Brophy from the plane. Brophy told Canadians about Mynarski’s attempts to save his life. As a result, officials commended Mynarski’s actions and awarded the fallen pilot the most important medal for bravery, the Victoria Cross. He was the first member of the Royal Canadian Air Force to be given the award during the Second World War.
Even though Mynarski is buried in the Meharicourt Cemetery in France, he is honored in Canada. Today, a statue of Mynarski stands proudly with his back to Parliament Hill, part of the Valiant Memorial.