Canadian EAAers will have
a lot to be proud of at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006. The dream of seeing
the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s magnificent Lancaster bomber
aircraft in flight over EAA AirVenture Oshkosh was born in the hearts
and minds of EAA Chapter 1410, High River, Alberta, Canada. The chapter
members underwrote the cost of this historic visit, which begins
Wednesday when the airplane arrives at Wittman Regional Airport.
The Lanc’s landing at
Oshkosh also puts the crowning touch on a significant Canadian presence
that will include a static display from the Nanton Lancaster Museum; de
Havilland’s DH.82 Tiger Moth and Chipmunk; a Hawker Hurricane, and a
Supermarine Spitfire. The Lancaster will also participate in the
expanded Warbirds of America air shows on Friday and Saturday, taking
part in some of the most spectacular flight demonstrations seen at
Oshkosh in many years.
More than 55,000 Royal
Air Force (RAF) airmen gave their lives for freedom during WWII,
including about 10,000 Canadians serving in Bomber Command. More that
700 United States airmen, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force
prior to December 7, 1941, also gave their lives serving in Allied
forces. The names of these heroes are enshrined on a memorial wall at
Nanton’s Lancaster Museum, and a partial re-creation and display of
that wall will be at Oshkosh.
Attendees are invited to
visit with veterans such as Lancaster pilot, Joe English, and hear their
stories, including Joe’s in "Operation Manna." In that 1945
operation, Bomber Command made more than 3,100 airdrops of food supplies
to help the 3.5 million Dutch citizens who were starving after four
years of German occupation.
