The "Ruhr Express"

We found this patch at Ron's place after he passed away. I asked Mickey if I could have it. I looked it up on the internet afterwards. Lancaster bombers were built by Victory Aircraft Limited utilizing the Malton, Ontario factory (near today's Toronto Pearson International Airport).Initially, all components were built at Malton except for the bomb doors, flaps, ailerons and elevators, that were produced by Ottawa Car & Aircraft Ltd. I think that Ron probably worked for this company.

KB-700 - THE RUHR EXPRESS
August 1, 1943 was a proud day for the workers of Victory Aircraft
and indeed for all Canadians as the first Canadian-built Lancaster rolled off the assembly line.

The "Ruhr Express" flew two operations with No. 405 Squadron before completing its service with No. 419 "Moose" Squadron. On January 2, 1945 KB-700, the first Canadian built Lancaster, experienced hydraulic problems while attempting to land following a raid to Nuremberg, its 49th operation. The flaps would not deploy properly and, after overshooting the runway, the aircraft ended up in a farmer's field where it collided with a trench digger. Amid exploding ammunition the crew escaped but fire destroyed the aircraft. The loss was particularly sad, especially when viewed over fifty-five years later, because the plans were to fly the "Ruhr Express" back to Canada following its fiftieth operation, for a triumphant return and to become a memorial to the Canadians who built and flew Lancasters. So ended the first plans for a Lancaster to be placed on display in a Canadian museum.

I contacted the The Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta (south of Calgary) to see if they were interested in the patch. They were very interested and I'm going to mail it to them.