Nanton Lancaster Museum - 23 Aug 2008

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Nanton Bomber Command Memorial, with "Minnie Simcoe". Marg Liessens with "Minnie Simcoe", a replica of the mascot that flew <br />with 431 Squadron of Lancaster Bombers during WWII. The inset shows a photo of the aircrew of Lancaster KB-859 in 1944. <br />LtoR: Albert Dorey, Laurie Mercer, 'Red' Dennison, Johnny Casey, Pat, Jack Hartog, Roy Alty. <br />Marg Liessens is holding the same bracelet that her father Albert is wearing in the photograph. <br />The entire crew except for the pilot were killed when their plane was shot down over <br />Germany in 1945. Unaware of its existance, Marg only discovered the bracelet <br />had survived the war when it was sent to her by a relative last year. <br />It now resides with the Nanton museum. Albert Dorey, and the bracelet he was wearing when he was shot down over Germany during a mission <br />to bomb the U-Boat shipyards near Hamburg, on 31 March, 1945. It was his 21st mission. Marg and Minnie in front of the Nanton Lancaster. Even Brent and Riley were there... On the left is Albert Dorey in 1944 standing next to a Bolingbroke Bomber and its .303 machine gun turret. <br />On the right is his daughter Marg, standing next to the Nanton museum's own Bolingbroke Bomber. Marg introducing "Minnie Simcoe" to the Nanton musuem. The original Minnie flew in 18 <br />confirmed missions, and was even awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Marg presenting the new Minnie to Rob Pedersen, <br />president of the Nanton Lancaster Society. Marg was then presented with a surprise gift of her own... a custom plaque honouring her father, painted by renowned <br />WWII nose art historian, Clarence Simonsen. Marg with Minnie, a Snowbird and the plaque. The new Minnie flew in a Tutor jet with <br />the Snowbirds during the Rocky Mountain House airshow on 13 Aug 2008. The commemorative plaque painted on original Lancaster skin in memory of <br />P/O Albert Dorey, presented to Marg Liessens on 23 August 2008. Marg, Minnie and Ian. And now it was time for the big event the anxious crowd was waiting for... while two of Nanton's finest volunteer firefighters stood by... Three coffee's to go... and with a puff of exhaust smoke, number four engine roars to life... followed by the inboard number three engine. Riley enjoying the beautiful roar of the Nanton Lancaster... The first time in sixty years that more than one engine has <br />been fired up on this remarkable aircraft. Later in the morning, the engine of a Fleet Fawn was also started up... after several tries. The backbone of the RAF Bomber Command during WWII. Thanks again to the town of Nanton and the Lancaster Society.