THE crowds are set to witness an historic event at this year's Bournemouth Air Festival when the Canadian Lancaster flies in from across the pond.

Fans will get to see the spectacle of the world's only two airworthy Lancaster in the sky when the Canadian plane flies with the Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

It is the first, and most likely the last, time that it will happen.

The Canadian Lancaster is operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and is spending a month-and-a-half in the UK, taking part in a series of events with the BBMF.

The museum's Mk 10 Lancaster was built in July 1945 and was seriously damaged in 1952, but repaird with a wing centre section from a plane that had flown in combat over Germany.

It spent time as a maritime patrol aircraft and served with the Royal Canadian Air Force until late 1963.

It was returned to the air in 1988 and is dedicated to the memory of P/O Andrew Mynarski, referred to as the “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster”.

It is painted in the colours of his aircraft KB726 - VR-A, which flew with RCAF No. 419 (Moose) Squadron.

Mynarski won the Victoria Cross in 1944 for his gallantry when his Lancaster was shot down by a German fighter.

As the bomber fell, he attempted to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing and out of control aircraft.

The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash and lived to tell the story, but sadly Andrew Mynarski died from his severe burns.