RCAF Lancaster Bomber Returns to Goderich | Canadian Owners & Pilots Association

juin 25, 2024

The Lancaster parked on the main ramp at Goderich. Legion members and public awaiting the beginning of the speeches. Image courtesy of Phil Lightstone

By Phil Lightstone

June 14, 2024 saw the return of the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s Lancaster bomber to the Goderich Municipal Airport (CYGD). During World War II, CYGD was a British Commonwealth Training Program (BCTP) airport training Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) flight training crews for service overseas. Goderich was home to No 12 Elementary Flying Training School using the Fleet Finch to train aircrews. The school was operated by the Kitchener-Waterloo and the County of Huron Flying Clubs, operating between October 1940 and July 1944.

On June 14, 1964, the RCAF flew the retired Avro Lancaster FM213 to Goderich, where the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion displayed it as a war memorial. In 1977, KB726 was acquired by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWH) in Hamilton, where the aircraft was restored to flying condition and saw its first post restoration flight in 1988. The Lancaster continues to fly and remains one of only two airworthy examples in the world. Randy Carroll, Goderich Legion President reports: “We are thrilled to welcome back the Lancaster to Goderich on this significant anniversary. This iconic aircraft holds a special place in the hearts of our community, and we are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate its history and pay tribute to the brave individuals who served during World War II. We invite everyone to join us in this momentous occasion and experience the magic of the Lancaster firsthand." To date there are only two Lancasters flying, PA474 and KB726, CWH’s Lancaster known as VeRA.

Crew of the Lancaster. Image courtesy of Phil Lightstone.

The Lancaster was showcased at CYGD on June 14th and 15th. A barbecue lunch was prepared by COPA Flight 45 for those attendees who drove or flew in. Trillium Aviators publicized the event to their mailing list of over 350 names, in addition to the publicity that the City of Goderich and the Goderich Legion conducted over the past few months. The organizers reported that on Friday there were: over 8,000 attendees; 128 aircraft; over 200 pilots; 50 volunteers; eight Legion branches; and 1,700 cars. The flight crew of the Lancaster included: pilot David G. Rorher (President and CEO CWH; co-pilot Leon Evans (Chief Pilots=, CWH); flight engineer Craig Brookhouse; and five passengers.

CWH’s Lancaster routinely flies 50 hours each year. Their flying season begins in late May and concludes on November 11th. The airtime from Hamilton to Goderich was 0.7 hours, with a diversion to Listowel, Ont. with a flyby for the Listowel Legion and public school was conducted. Circling overhead the school drew all the students out to watch the Lancaster orbit overhead. In fact, the Lancaster consistently draws people to view the iconic aircraft. In 1988, when CWH was not well known, the first flight of the Lancaster drew 20,000 spectators to the Hamilton Airport, surprising CWH who were expecting 2,000 attendees. In 2014, the Lancaster was ferried to England rejoining VRA with PA474 for several air shows including the two Lancasters flying in formation with the Avro Vulcan. In 1988, the Lancaster had 4,000 hours Total Time. After 37 seasons of flight, the estimated time is 5,900 hours.

The Blue Team, an airport ground operations team traveled from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) providing the manpower to manage the arrivals, parking, fueling and departures of what is arguably many aircraft for this sleepy airport. With 128 aircraft descending upon the airport, the Blue Team and Goderich local pilot volunteers were on hand to help marshal, park and fuel aircraft which flew in for the event.

The two of the three runways were NOTAMed closed and were used for aircraft parking. Runway 14/32 a 5,034 x 100 foot was used for arriving and departing aircraft. Friday’s event consisted of: aircraft arrivals; Lancaster arrival at 10 am; formal welcoming ceremony with speeches; Lancaster tours open to the public; COPA hosted BBQ; reception at the Legion Branch 109; static display; dinner at the Legion; Air Cadets inspection at the Lancaster; and music and dancing at the Legion featuring the Daves I Know band. Saturday included: dignitary flights on the Lancaster; static display; BBQ hosted by the Goderich Lions Club; and departure of the Lancaster at 2:00 pm.

The return of the Lancaster to the Goderich Airport was an event not only for aviators and enthusiasts, but also our military veterans, the Legion and the town of Goderich. Over 8,000 people attended the event, with huge crowds gathering for the 10 am arrival. An honor guard comprising of Legion vets marched holding regimental and the Canadian flags high. The Lancaster arrived a few minutes early, conducting a lower and over, which is impressive. The size of the aircraft combined with the sound of four Rolls-Royce Merlyn engines, while flying low over the runway transports one back to the 1940’s, when England was a buzz with the sounds of heavy bombers.

Darryl McMillen, a resident of St. Thomas ON traveled to Goderich for the event. Now 64 years old, Darryl lived in Goderich and witnessed the helicopter lift of the Lancaster in 1977. Darryl recalls that the Chinook heavy lift helicopter took two attempts before it could fly the Lancaster to its new home in Hamilton. The first lift raised the Lancaster to 200 feet, with half of Goderich in attendance to watch the event. A month later, after the Lancaster was put on a diet, the helicopter returned and successfully lifted the Lancaster. Darryl was born and raised in Goderich, now in retirement, he is a licenced pilot with 400 hours in his logbook.

Dave Rohrer, President and CEO of Canadian Warplane Heritage and pilot of the Lancaster addresses the crowd. While there were many dignitaries speaking, most of the speeches were short and to the point. Image courtesy of Phil Lightstone.

Randy Carroll notes that he was approached by many families of airmen serving overseas and flying the Lancaster, who told him family stories of their parents and Uncles experiences flying in the Lancaster. At least two families came with their parent’s logbook. Randy reports: “I was left speechless when one family member presented me with his father’s logbook. This veteran of WWII not only flew 30 sorties in the Lancaster, but after his tour of duty was over, reenlisted and flew another 12 sorties. With a high casualty rate of flying daytime and nighttime bombing, especially over Germany, it is amazing that this veteran flew 42 missions and returned home to Canada to his family and friends.”

David Rohrer, President and CEO of the Canadian Warplane Heritage, the current owner and caretaker of the Harvard reports: “we were very fortunate that when the Lancaster was placed onto the pedestal here in Goderich in 1964, that the engineers mounted it properly mounted, allowing the Lancaster to be returned to airworthiness and flight (note: most Lancasters placed on pedestals had their wing spars cut, making them unrepairable and never able to see flight again).”

CWH’s Lancaster was built by Victory Aircraft in Malton ON in July 1945. Celebrating iconic aircraft, like the Lancaster, Mosquitos, Tudors and Beavers (to name a few), all built in Canada, reminds us of the rich history that Canada has contributing in so many ways to world conflicts and aviation. You can routinely see the Lancaster at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton ON as well as flying at various airshows in Canada (occasionally in the US) and Cenotaph flybys during Remembrance Day.

The crowd at Goderich. Image courtesy of Phil Lightstone.

Woodstock Harvards pilots Dave Hewitt, Joe Cosmano, Pete Spence and Brian Pinder taking a break after a BBQ lunch. COPA Member Marvin Kalchman giving a big Thumbs Up to the Lancaster Fly In. Image courtesy of Phil Lightstone.