The A. De Breyne Crew of 419 Squadron
L to R: F/O G. Brophy, Rear Gunner; W/O W. Kelly, Wireless Op;
F/Sgt R. Vigars, Flt/Engineer;
F/O A. De Breyne, Pilot; P/O A. Mynarski, Mid-upper Gunner; P/O J. Friday, Bomb Aimer;
F/O B. Bodie, Navigator.
This crew was shot down over Cambrai on the night of June 12/13,
1944. Only P/O Mynarski was killed.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic efforts to save F/O
Brophy, the Rear gunner, giving up any
chance he had of survival to help his crew-mate, who was jammed in the
rear turret. P/O Mynarski bailed out
but was badly burned and died soon thereafter. F/O Brophy went down
with the plane and was thrown from the turret
when it hit the ground and escaped serious injury.
Photo (image number PL-38265) supplied by Canadian Forces Imagery Unit