Most Logged Flying Hours in an Avro Lancaster

Tanker 336 · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 10:15 pm

With a heavy heart, I inform you that Marcel "Des" Desaulniers passed away on April 20/2015. Des served in the RCAF from 1945 to 1972. He was stationed in CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia during the 1950's where he flew the Avro Lancaster in the dual roles as Maritime patrol & survey duties in the high Arctic. He amassed 3018 hours, the most logged flying hours in a RCAF Lancaster. The standing joke goes, that he flew around the World in a Lancaster twice within 1/2 hr. (circled around the flag on the North Pole) It's sad that Des won't be witness to the New Brunswick Lancaster that will be brought to the Alberta Aviation museum for restoration.

Cheers

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 10:24 pm

Tks Tanker 336....

May he rest in peace.....

I only wish that I will get to see the New Brunswick Lancaster again in all her remembrance glory.

Michel

ProudKerman · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2015 2:08 am

What a legend. :drink3:

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2015 9:31 am

Godspeed Marcel

Dave Hadfield · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

He would have searched for a lot of lost boats and sailors and airmen in that time, in some of the fiercest weather on the planet. And the Lanc is basically single-pilot, and he flew it in an era of limited radar, and no CAT III approaches.

My hat off to him -- Godspeed.

Dave

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Most Logged Flying Hours in an Avro Lancaster

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