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Lancaster V-RA had a short but distinguished career. To all intents and purposes she was a brand new aircraft when she flew her first mission on D-Day, 6 June 1944. At first light on that historic day her young Canadian crew of seven, average age 21, struck at the heavy coastal guns at Arromanches, bombing from just 1500 feet. The next night they took out a bridge at Coutances in West Normandy from 1200 feet, and on the third night they raided the Achere marshalling yards on the outskirts of Paris. Her final mission against the Cambrai marshalling yards on the night of 12 June ended in heroism and disaster. Shot down in flames by a Ju88, Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski sacrificed his own life to save his trapped rear gunner. Miraculously six survived. Mynarski was awarded posthumously the Victoria Cross for his conspicuous act of valour.
As a flying memorial to Mynarski and all bomber crews, on 24 September 1988 a Lancaster, lovingly restored over many years by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Foundation, flew from Mount Hope Airport, Nr. Hamilton, Ontario, painted in the markings of Andrew Mynarski's famous aircraft. To commemorate this special event Robert Taylor was commissioned to paint Mynarski's Lancaster.
In Robert Taylor's painting, Lancaster V-RA is seen on final approach to RAF Colerne early on the morning of 6 June 1944.
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