A HIGH-RANKING Canadian airman known as “Moose” is flying into Teesside Airport this weekend to remember his squadron members who fought and died during the Second World War.

The annual commemoration of the 1,266 airmen, most of them Canadian, who died while operating from RAF Middleton St George coincide with the anniversary of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski being posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his self-sacrificing bravery.

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Lieutenant-Colonel Ryan Keen, the commanding officer of 419 "Moose" Squadron, is flying in from the squadron's base in Cold Lake, Canada, with five other officers to lead the commemoration on Saturday (June 10, 2023).

The squadron's emblem, which was presented to it when it was at RAF Middleton St George, features a moose, and ever since receiving it the commanding officer has always been called "Moose" - even his email address features the word.

Moose will be joined by a representative from the Canadian High Commission in London, plus Group Captain Gareth Prendergast, the commanding officer of RAF Leeming. Local MPs, mayors and dignitories will also be present.

The event is arranged by the Middleton St George Memorial Association. Chairman Geoff Hill said: "We would be delighted if members of the public would come and join us."

People start gathering at 10.15am for the service to begin at 10.45 with the silence at 11am.

The service is held outside the former officers' mess, which used to be the St George Hotel, in front of the Mynarski statue which The Northern Echo played a central part in getting erected in 2005. The building is largely unchanged since the war and so would be recognisible to men like Mynarski who served there. He won his VC on June 13, 1944, as, rather than jumping from his stricken bomber, he beat his way through the flames and tried to rescue his friend, the rear gunner, Pat Brophy, who was trapped in his glass turret.

Mynarski died from his injuries whereas Brophy, by a fluke, was thrown clear and survived when the Lancaster crashlanded in France.

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