"Our supreme efforts must be to gainoverwhelming mastery in the air. The Fighters are our salvation, but the Bombers alone provide the means to victory." – WinstonChurchill

During the Second World War, tens of thousands of Canadians in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) served in Bomber Command operations over Occupied Europe, Germany and Italy. This was Canada's biggest air commitment abroad—but it was also its costliest. Your coin captures the intensity and danger involved with each daring mission, as a formation of Canadian Lancaster bombers comes under fire in the skies over Germany.

A poignant addition to your military-themed coin display. Order your commemorative coin today.

• FOURTH COIN IN SERIES: Your coin is the fourth in the Second World War Battlefront Series, which chronicles Canada's participation in key battles of the Second World War.
• HIGHLY DETAILED ENGRAVING: Your coin re-creates a representation of Avro Lancaster B. III bombers flying through a storm of flak (anti-aircraft fire) during a bombing mission over Germany.
• HONOURS BOMBER COMMAND: Honours the contributions of the roughly 40,000 Canadian men and women who served as part of Bomber Command—on the ground and in the skiesover Occupied Europe, Germany and Italy.
• INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE: The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins. Most of theseare serialized certifications, meaning that each certificate is given a unique number, starting at 1.
• EFFIGY OF KING GEORGE VI: Your coin features the effigy of King George VI by T. H. Paget.
• 1 OUNCE 99.99% PURE SILVER COIN: Your coin has no GST/HST!

Designed by Canadian artist Glen Loates, yourcoin takes to the skies for a glimpse of the action during the Allied bombing offensive. Highly detailed engraving re-creates a representation of Avro Lancaster B. III bombers flying through a storm of flak (anti-aircraft fire) during a bombing mission over Germany. In the foreground, the Lancaster's bomb bay doors are about to close after the aircraft has dropped its load. The aircraft's positioning allows for a close examination of the twin ovaltail fins, its "glasshouse" canopy and transparent nose, along with two of its four Rolls Royce Merlin engines. At a lower height, two other Lancasters have just dropped their bomb loads in the background. At right, is a German Messerschmitt BF-109, a stalwart of the Luftwaffe's fighting force; this aircraft's attack is cut short as it emits a trail of smoke after being hit by one of theLancaster gunners.

From the start of the war, the RAF was bombing Germany in acampaign to hit military targets and factories, but with limited success. By 1942, the Allies began anunprecedented aerial bombardment to destroy the enemy's war production and its distribution system.

Bomber Command's early daytime incursions into enemy air space were characterized by heavy losses and limited success against a strong defending forceof Messerschmitt BF-109s. To provide some cover for the bombers, the strategy shifted to nighttime raids—including the first RCAF bombing mission on the night of 12-13 June, 1941.

Canada's role in Bomber Command became more prominent in January 1943, when eight RCAF squadrons were organized into an all-Canadian strike force known as No. 6 (RCAF) Group of Bomber Command. This would become the largest overseas air formationin Canadian history, with 15 squadrons serving with the group during the war. By mid-1944, No. 6 Group had expanded to 14 bomber squadrons and four HeavyConversion Units operating from 11 airfields. It took part in over 40,000 missions—includingair support over Normandy on June 6, 1944 (D-Day),and during the subsequent liberation of Western Europe. The squadrons of No. 6 Group served with distinction and were awarded nearly 2,000 decorations for bravery and distinguished service, with one member of No. 6 Group being awarded the Victoria Cross.

• Since the government viewed the RCAF as Canada's first line of defence in 1939, it was decided that only three squadrons could initially be spared for service overseas. By 1945, the RCAF was the fourth largest air force among Allied nations, with 48 squadrons taking part in operations overseas, and another 37 operating in the defence of Canada.
• Men and women both played a role in Bomber Command. Although women didn't serve in combat roles, members of the RCAF Women's Division performed support work as radio operators and code and cypher clerks.
• Introduced in 1942, the Lancaster was the most famous British bomber thanks to its speed, high ceiling and lifting power. The "Lanc" carried 63% of the tonnage dropped by the RCAF and RAF— in fact, out of the total 964,644 tons dropped by Bomber Command, the Lancaster dropped 608,612 tons.
• The Lancaster was the only British aircraft capable of delivering a 22,000-pound (10,000 kg) special purpose bomb known as "The Grand Slam," which was used by No. 617 Squadron, RAF ("the Dambusters").
• Victory Aircraft in Malton, Ontario, produced 430 Lancasters (Mk. X); 240 were sent to the United Kingdomand assigned to No. 6 Group.
• Created in August 1942, the Pathfinders were an elite squadron tasked with marking targets. RCAFNo. 405 Squadron joined the No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group in April 1943; its last missions of the war were to mark drop points for the airdrop of food supplies to The Hague and Rotterdam, in theoccupied portion of the Netherlands.
• Frostbite was not uncommon during these missions. Flying at high altitudes, the crew often endured hours of sub-zero temperatures in cramped conditions that could make it difficult to escape if shot down.

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a custom beauty box.

Order your commemorative coin today.