"That was the best bombing of the war, I always say that.  It was at least dropping food instead of bombs to people," says Joseph English, a World War II Lancaster Pilot. Dropping food in World War II from a Lancaster Aircraft, the 83 year old was in the Pilot's seat. "We were a very, very, very lucky crew.  And good.  We were a good crew.  We were especially good.  And we got through thirty trips, for what they call a tour," says English.A Tour that took English and his crew flying over Holland, dropping canned goods to people like Ron Groeneceld, who was waiting below."We were very, very happy that the planes came over.  I said to me dad, I wish they came down so I could shakes hands," says Groeneceld. About thirty years ago, he got to do just that. "In about seventy-four I run in Joe English, and I heard him talking about it.  So I went up Joe, I don't know him at that time.  I said Joe, I want to say thank-you," says Groeneceld. The Nanton Lancaster Society is saying thank you in another way, one night a week, by restoring the legendary plane.

"I have a deep interest in airplanes, and I had an uncle who passed away in one of these airplanes during the war.  That's way I come out," says Greg Morrison. Morrison is among a number of volunteers who come here to restore several planes, including the Lancaster. "It's somebody else's engine, and they've entrusted us to make it run.  And that's what we're trying to do," says John Philips who is also a volunteer. "For the most part it's to bring public awareness to what these guys did, and one of the ways we can do this is by making the engines run.  So it brings the museum to life, the engine to life," says Morrison.

It has taken over 15 years to get the Lancaster into the shape that it is today.  The Nanton Lancaster Society anticipates it will take another 15 to get 'The Lanc' into operation order, and that's not flying.  Regardless, the volunteers who come out and help work on the Lancaster are happy that they do it.

"I prefer to work on 'The Lanc' simply, because who else can say they're working on a World War II Bomber," says Roger Olynyk. A Bomber that reminds English of a life he lived many  decades ago. "When they run the engine or something like that, it's very exciting for me.  And the sound of the motor, I love that sound of the Merlin engine," says English. While it may be a few months before anyone hears that sound, the Lancaster, standing tall and proud, is reminder enough of what our young men did as a sacrifice and service. "And the Canadians here, we should be proud of these boys, and my boys too.  I call 'em my boys too," says Groeneceld.