The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will conduct a ceremonial flyby over Windsor, Ontario, on April 29, as part of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of Operation MANNA—a humanitarian mission during the final days of the Second World War that saw Allied aircraft deliver lifesaving food to Dutch civilians trapped under Nazi occupation.
The CC-130J Hercules tactical airlifter. Source: Royal Canadian Air Force
According to a statement from CFB Trenton, an RCAF CC-130J Hercules aircraft will perform the flyby between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., conditions permitting. The event is organized by the Canadian Aviation Museum in Windsor, where the same aircraft will be available for public viewing in a static display following its flyover.
The flyby pays tribute to the April 29, 1945 mission that marked the beginning of Operation MANNA. On that morning, two Lancaster bombers departed the United Kingdom with a singular, urgent goal: to drop food supplies over Western Netherlands, whose population was facing mass starvation after months of Nazi-imposed hardship and a brutal winter.
Leading that historic effort was a 21-year-old RCAF pilot and Windsor native, Captain Robert Upcott, flying a Lancaster nicknamed “Bad Penny.” Upcott’s aircraft became the first to cross the Dutch shoreline, successfully completing the mission’s test run. Together, the two bombers delivered 40,000 pounds of food, marking the start of what would become a massive international relief operation.
The CC-130J Hercules, a modern four-engine turboprop aircraft, represents the evolution of Canada’s tactical airlift capabilities. Frequently deployed in roles ranging from personnel and cargo transport to search and rescue operations, the Hercules will fly at an altitude no lower than 500 feet above the highest obstacle within 2,000 feet of its route. As per RCAF protocol, all flybys are tightly coordinated and subject to change based on weather and operational requirements.
This year’s flyby not only honours the legacy of Captain Upcott and his fellow aircrew but also highlights Canada’s continued commitment to humanitarian missions and remembrance of its military history.
Canada Defence Journal 