80th Anniversary of RCAF Humanitarian mission during WWII commemorated at Windsor Museum

Special 80th anniversary commemoration of Operation Manna held in Windsor.

A special 80th anniversary commemoration of a vital mission of humanitarian aid by Canadian aviators during world war world two was held in Windsor Tuesday at the Canadian Aviation Museum with a Royal Canadian Air Force C-130 arriving to pay tribute.

The mission was called ‘Operation Manna’ and Windsorite, pilot Bob Upcott and his crew took off on April 29, 1945, in their Lancaster bomber to airdrop desperately needed food to the starving people of Nazi-occupied Holland.

About 1,000 people a day were dying in the country members of the community were on hand to pay respects, and admission was a non-perishable food item that will go to local food banks via the UHC – Hub of Opportunities.

Don Christopher has been with the museum for 13 years and leads the restoration project of the museum’s RCAF Lancaster bomber.

“I think many people don’t realize how much the Dutch government appreciates this,” said Christopher. “In fact, every year tulips go to the Ottawa Tulip Festival from the Dutch government as a thank you for this. So here we are 80 years later, and they’re still doing that every year.”

The museum relies on mostly volunteers throughout the entire year who bring their experience as in engineering, mechanical and technical trades and the like to maintain and restore historic aircraft (e.g. Lancaster, Mosquito and others) and artifacts.

The restoration project of the resident Lancaster bomber is a meticulous one – and when finished, the aircraft will be the most authentic and original example of the iconic warbird in the world.