There was a time when Hamilton’s famed Lancaster bomber was mounted like a giant butterfly in a high school science project. From 1964 until 1977, Lancaster FM213 sat on pedestals near the Goderich Airport as a war memorial created by the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Just before that, the retired aircraft made what was supposed to be its final flight.
On June 14, 1964, the Royal Canadian Air Force flew the bomber into Goderich Airport amid a large crowd of onlookers. Now, that same aircraft — painstakingly restored to flying condition by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton — is set to make a historic return flight to Goderich on the shores of Lake Huron. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lancaster as it looks today.
On June 14, 60 years to the day of that first arrival, the Lancaster is scheduled to make a celebratory visit to Goderich Regional Airport. “It was part of the town’s history for so many years,” says Warplane Heritage marketing manager Al Mickeloff. “Many in Goderich feel responsible for the plane flying today because they saved the aircraft all those years ago to a point that it could later be restored.
” Mickeloff says “we noticed the anniversary date was coming up. So, we thought it would be the right thing to do — to make a return visit.” A large crowd is expected at the airport to greet the Lancaster when it arrives.
On June 14, 1964, retired RCAF Lancaster FM213 was flown to Goderich Airport on what was ex.
