ozboz
Guru
- Location
- Richmond ,Surrey
The Dam Buster raid , I visited the Dams whilst serving in Germany , you could see where the damage had been repaired , I seem to think the last surviving Airman passed away recently ,
77 years ago .....
- Thread starter ozboz
- Start date
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Forgot about that. Thanks.
Mixed feelings on it as I hate war.
70,000 casualties with 4,000 dead depending on which report is true. 56 crew members dead. A sad part of war
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Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
I agree it's a sad inevitability of war that people have to die for it to be shortened. Although the damage to German industry feeding the war effort was limited it was a much needed morale boost to the Allies.
I think the reason it lives on in people’s memory is that it highlights British bravery, determination and ingenuity.
I think the reason it lives on in people’s memory is that it highlights British bravery, determination and ingenuity.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
That was where they 'practised' for the raid.
rualexander
Legendary Member
Interesting cycling related link to dambusters :
The last surviving pilot from the raid, who died in 2015, New Zealander Les Munro, was the grandfather of artist Caitlin Fielder who paints cycling shoes on commission, and who is the partner of Jumbo Visma's George Bennett.
Not a lot of people know that
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other...caitlin-fielder-lets-her-shoes-do-the-talking
https://instagram.com/caitlinfielder_fineart?igshid=kvr3uyocvvib
The last surviving pilot from the raid, who died in 2015, New Zealander Les Munro, was the grandfather of artist Caitlin Fielder who paints cycling shoes on commission, and who is the partner of Jumbo Visma's George Bennett.
Not a lot of people know that
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other...caitlin-fielder-lets-her-shoes-do-the-talking
https://instagram.com/caitlinfielder_fineart?igshid=kvr3uyocvvib
Domus
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Radcliffe
When on a car club holiday to Germany a few years ago, the hotelier was a mate of the chief engineer at the Möhne Dam and arranged a visit. The power station is now built into the valley side as opposed to the bottom of the dam wall where the original one was and got washed away. We went inside the dam as there is a walkway the full length. Very interesting visit.
Remarkable act of breviary sadly with deadly results. Not forgetting Barnes Wallis a true visionary worked on so much more.
His earth quake bomb help but many highly reinforced submarine pens out of action, along with V2 factories and used to the Tirpitz.
He never got over the lives of the crew lost in the Bomb buster ride his daughter said it effective him greatly.
The money he finally got paid for the bouncing bomb he gave to his old school (Christ's Hospital of blue coats fame) to set up a fund to allow kids of RAF crew last in action to attend. After the war he did a lot of work on supersonic flight and worked on remote controlled aircraft so as not to endanger the lives of test pilots.
The raid was planed to considered with a trip Churchill was going in the US to drum up support for the war and get them to join.
He planned to add it a speech when asked what if it go's wrong. His reply was "then no-one will ever know".
One positive of the rid if you can call it that. The high death toll from it lead to Geneva convention being changed to outlaw attacks on dams preventing water being used as a weapon.
A Lancaster on the way home from the flypast comes over our house ever year never fails to impress.
His earth quake bomb help but many highly reinforced submarine pens out of action, along with V2 factories and used to the Tirpitz.
He never got over the lives of the crew lost in the Bomb buster ride his daughter said it effective him greatly.
The money he finally got paid for the bouncing bomb he gave to his old school (Christ's Hospital of blue coats fame) to set up a fund to allow kids of RAF crew last in action to attend. After the war he did a lot of work on supersonic flight and worked on remote controlled aircraft so as not to endanger the lives of test pilots.
The raid was planed to considered with a trip Churchill was going in the US to drum up support for the war and get them to join.
He planned to add it a speech when asked what if it go's wrong. His reply was "then no-one will ever know".
One positive of the rid if you can call it that. The high death toll from it lead to Geneva convention being changed to outlaw attacks on dams preventing water being used as a weapon.
A Lancaster on the way home from the flypast comes over our house ever year never fails to impress.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
We used to do some work for The Research Establishment outside London. In an overgrown part of the grounds is a concrete scale model of one of the dams. It was used to experiment with scale model bouncing bombs in preparation for the raid. I saw it back in the 80's and was told that they made a point of showing it to German visitors.
It was, indeed.. T'is why I mentioned it. 👍🏼
On the subject of the film. A screen in the film has Guy Gibson's dog walking from the briefing room access the base to the guard room.
Every time they tried to do it the dog would not pass a certain point. They found out it was the spot the real dog was buried. The grave stone had been removed for filming (all got put back after). In the end they had to edit that part of his walk out.
Every time they tried to do it the dog would not pass a certain point. They found out it was the spot the real dog was buried. The grave stone had been removed for filming (all got put back after). In the end they had to edit that part of his walk out.
Domus
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Radcliffe
Guy Gibson, who led the raid died less than two years later........................at the ripe old age of 26
They're still not sure that happened sad to think they only ID him from a name label in his sock
Domus
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Radcliffe
He did not have many hours in Mosquitos and he was flying a reserve aircraft I believe.
From what I can gather he was very Gung Ho and took more risks than his crews were happy with.
From what I can gather he was very Gung Ho and took more risks than his crews were happy with.
