Dambusters
The Dambusters raid by Guy Gibson’s 617 Squadron is one of the best known air raids of World War II. The operation was known as “Chastise” and would see Lancaster bombers drop ‘bouncing bombs’ on a number of dams in the Ruhr Valley. The ‘bouncing bombs’ had been developed by Barnes Wallace specifically to attack dams. Before the outbreak of the war, the industrial heartland of Germany had been identified as an important strategic target, with the dams being highlights as specific targets. The aim of Operation Chastise was to flood the valleys destroying factories and transportation links that were fueling the German war effort. The dams also provide power and the water from the lakes was used in the canal transport system.
Planning the Operation Chastise
Hitting dams with a conventional bombing raid would prove very difficult so the RAF turned to Barnes Wallis to develop a suitable weapon. Wallis was an aircraft designer and had been involved in the Wellesley and Wellington bombers. He eventually came up with the idea of a bouncing bomb. The drum shaped bomb would be rotated is a specially designed cage on a Lancaster bomber. Just prior to release, bomb would start to be rotated backwards and as it was released from low level, it would skip along the water. The idea was the bomb would hit the dam wall and sink the bottom where it would explode, causing maximum damage.
In order to get the bombs to bounce correctly, they had to be dropped at a specific height (60 feet / 20 metres), a specific speed (240 mph / 390 kmh) and a precise distance from the dam. This would require some skilful flying by the pilots and the risks were obvious. However, the plan was adopted and the task was given to a squadron lead by Wing Commander Guy Gibson. The 22 crews would be based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
The plan was to attack in May when the water levels would be at their highest and the crews practiced over Eyebrook Reservoir (Rutland), Abberton Reservoir (Essex), Derwent Reservoir (Derbyshire) and Chesil Beach (Dorset).
The Dambusters Raid
The raid took place on the night of the 16/17 May 1943. The specially adapted Lancasters took off from RAF Scampton in 3 waves. The plan was to fly at low level to the dams. Low level meant flying at 100 feet (30 meters) to avoid German radar. In plane ‘O’ for Orange, the wireless operator was stunned to see his pilot was flying along a fire break in the forest, below tree level.
The first dam to be attacked was the Mohne. Wing Commander Guy Gibson was the first to attack but his bomb exploded short of the dam. After that, other aircraft took it turn to attack the dam and each time, Gibson flew along side them to help draw fire. The fifth run saw a second successful strike on the dam and the Mohne was breached. Gibson then led the first wave on to the Eder Dam and that too was breached.
The second and third waves were less successful. The Sorpe Dam was hit twice and the Ennepe Dam once but neither was breached. The cost of the raid was heavy. Out of 19 aircraft, 8 were shot down resulting in 53 aircrew being killed and 3 captured. 2 dams were breached and 1 more was heavily damaged. As well as all the damaged to factories and transport, nearly 1,300 civilians were also killed.
Effects of the Raid
Tactically, the raid did not achieve as much as was hoped with no more than a minor inconvenience to the output from the Ruhr Valley. However, the effect on morale in both German and Britain was far more significant. It was also important in the eyes of the other Allied Leaders that they could see that Britain could be an effective ally.
One month after the raid, 34 survivors of the raid were decorated at Buckingham Palace. Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross. There are also 5 Distinguished Service Orders, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses and four bars, 2 Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, 11 Distinguished Flying Medals and 1 bar. 617 Squadron was kept together as a specialist unit and were also involved in the attack on the German Battleship, Tirpitz, again using specialist bombs developed by Barnes Wallis.
2010 Tours
There are a number of escorted tours running in 2010 that include the Dambusters raid in their itinerary.
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