"Nigger! They've breached the Moehne!"
Operation Chastise was the official name of the well-known Dambuster Raid. It's story goes back to pre-war times. The British Air ministry had identified the Ruhr river valley, especially it's dams, as important strategic targets. In addition to provide Hydro-electricity, they also supplied drinking water to more than half of Germany. It was then impossible to breach them due to the calculated amount of bombs required, and the defences on the dams.
As war broke out, the Bomber Command began debating on a method to destroy the dams. Barnes Wallis, Scientist and chief designer at Vickers company, who had once worked on two of it's bombers, came up with an Idea of dropping a 10 ton bomb from a height of 40,000 ft.
Dr Barnes Wallis
Sir Arthur Harris of bomber command, known popularly as "Bomber Harris" for his temper, reviewed Wallis's reports. Convinced, he allocated 30 Lancaster aircraft for the mission.
He also set the date around the month of May, when the water level would be highest.
A new squadron, ''Squadron X" was formed out of the RAF Group 5, and training began in earnest. Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson, a veteran of over 200 missions, was handed command of the squadron. He selected 21 bomber crews from existing 5th Group crews.
Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson,
Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson,
DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar
The next problem was the altitude. Gibson was experienced at low-flying, but it was not possible to determine altitude due to a certain inaccuracy of the Altimeters used during that period. As he was watching a play, Gibson noticed two spotlights, placed at two ends of the stage, combine to from one single spot. The idea struck him, and he got someone to geometrically calculate the angles and fitted Aldis Lamps on each bomber, one below the nose, and one below the tail. When the beams merged, it would mean that the aircraft was at 60 feet. Also, the bombers needed precision to drop the bomb. A colleague fashioned a prototype bomb-sight out of plywood, and it was accepted after a few tests.
Summer marched in, and the month of May was soon upon them. It was now time to send out recon aircraft to fly "accidentally" over the dams. By 16 of may, the water had risen just short of four to five feet from the top, which was just right for the attack.
Until then, Gibson was the only one aware of the real target. The rest of the squadron was in the dark. One day, Gibson had them assembled for briefing. They were then informed that the real targets were the Dams of the Ruhr valley. The main targets were the Moehne, Sorpae and the Edersee dam, as well as a number of secondary dams.
The squadron was organised into three formations. Formation One, numbering 9 aircraft consisted of Gibson, Flight Lt. Hopgood, Flight Lt. Martin, Flight Lt. David Maltby, Flight Lt. Dave Shannon, Flight Lt. Bill Astell. Their mission was to attack the Moehne. Any aircraft with bombs left would proceed tho the Eder dam.
Formation Two, numbering 5 aircraft, consisted of Flight Lt. Joe McCarthy, Pilot Officer Vernon Byers, Flight Lt. Bob Barlow, Flight Lt. Les Munro and P/O Geoff Rice Their mission was to attack the Sorpe dam.
Formation Three was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sgt. Cyril Anderson, Flt Sgt Bill Townsend, Flt Sgt Ken Brown, P/O Warner Ottley and P/O Lewis Burpee, taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
At exactly 2128 hrs on May 16th, the nineteen Lancasters of Squadron X, now officially Squadron 617, took off for the raid. As they reached the western border of Germany, a few guns opened up, and a Lanc from Formation Two was hit. They replied with Machine-Gun bursts.
Suddenly, they were flying over an airfield. Searchlights opened up, but managing to fly low over the trees, the Lancs dodged them. Another aircraft hit a tree and crashed into a feild, subsequently catching fire. Five seconds later, it's bomb exploded. Formation Two had lost four planes, leaving McCarthy to attack and return alone. The reserve force had faced heavy attacks, leaving only two aircraft.
As they neared the dam, It was lit up by concentrated flak. Gibson decided to go for it first, with Shannon coming in as decoy. Gibson's Crew was on alert. Gibson was looking through the bombsight, Spafford controlled the bomb, and Tery was navigating. The plane held course at Sixty feet, and suddenly Spafford yelled, "BOMB GONE" and Gibson eased the stick and flew over the dam. The mine hit the wall, sank, and threw up a huge fountain of water. But the dam held ground. Next came Hopgood, with Gibson as a decoy. But German gunners had Hopgood in their sights, an he was hit. Hopgood's mine fell into the power house and exploded. Micky Martin's turn. Another perfect drop, and the same incident repeated. But again the dam held. Next came Sqn. Leader Young. He cleared the dam, and a colossal wall of water swept right over it. Gibson could have sworn that the dam moved, but it still held.
Gibson called in Maltby. Maltby was hit on one wing, but at the very edge. He came in, dropped his mine, and got out of there. Again water swept over the dam, but now the whole valley was filled with smoke. As Gibson came around, he was about to call in Shannon, but he saw that the dam just wasn't there anymore. A hundred-yard breach in the wall! He told Huthcinson, his Radio operator to report to base
Back at the Operations Room in bomber command, Wallis and Harris were sitting on their fifth cup of coffee. The only news so far was of disaster. Hutch's slow morse began coming through...
"Dash-dot-dot....Dash-dot...Dash-Dash-Dot...."
""NIGGER"" the reciever yelled. "They've breached the Moehne!''
The news was too much for Wallis to bear. He threw his cup of coffee and he danced around like a wild African tribal. It was too much for him.
Gibson ordered Maltby and Micky to go home. He mustered the remaining five and headed for the Eder. They found the dam in a deep valley with high, forest-covered hills around it. The run was hazardous. The aircraft had to go over a gothic castle, drop quickly from 1000 to 60 feet, drop the mine, and then climb steeply to avoid a hill beyond the dam.
Shannon came in first, but was unsuccessful in dropping the mine. It repeated three times, and Gibson called in Maudsley to relieve him. In his third run, he dropped his mine, but not accurately. The mine hit the wall and exploded on impact, taking with it Maudsley and his Lanc
Shannon came in again. In his second run, he managed to get into the perfect position. His mine hit the dam accurately. Next came in Knight. Two abortive runs. Gibson sighed as he looked at his watch. it was 0140 already, and the eastern sky had hints of lightning. Knight's third run hit the dam and finally the Eder crumbled.
The survivors set course for home.
Brown, of the reserves was sent to the Sorpe. He dropped his mine, and witnessed the wall come down. He set course to return. It is unknown as to what happened to the aircraft sent to the Lister and Ennepe dams.
Ten of the nineteen Lancaster aircraft of Squadron 617 were coming home. The eastern sky was lightening every minute, increasing risk from German fighters. Young was shot over the Dutch coast, as he was returning.
Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross. 32 other aircrew were also decorated. The total cost of this mission was Nine Lancasters lost, 54 dead.
Reconnaissance over the next two days showed empty reservoirs and flooding. An entire airfield was underwater, and the town of Kassel was strangled.
Formation Three was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sgt. Cyril Anderson, Flt Sgt Bill Townsend, Flt Sgt Ken Brown, P/O Warner Ottley and P/O Lewis Burpee, taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
At exactly 2128 hrs on May 16th, the nineteen Lancasters of Squadron X, now officially Squadron 617, took off for the raid. As they reached the western border of Germany, a few guns opened up, and a Lanc from Formation Two was hit. They replied with Machine-Gun bursts.
Suddenly, they were flying over an airfield. Searchlights opened up, but managing to fly low over the trees, the Lancs dodged them. Another aircraft hit a tree and crashed into a feild, subsequently catching fire. Five seconds later, it's bomb exploded. Formation Two had lost four planes, leaving McCarthy to attack and return alone. The reserve force had faced heavy attacks, leaving only two aircraft.
As they neared the dam, It was lit up by concentrated flak. Gibson decided to go for it first, with Shannon coming in as decoy. Gibson's Crew was on alert. Gibson was looking through the bombsight, Spafford controlled the bomb, and Tery was navigating. The plane held course at Sixty feet, and suddenly Spafford yelled, "BOMB GONE" and Gibson eased the stick and flew over the dam. The mine hit the wall, sank, and threw up a huge fountain of water. But the dam held ground. Next came Hopgood, with Gibson as a decoy. But German gunners had Hopgood in their sights, an he was hit. Hopgood's mine fell into the power house and exploded. Micky Martin's turn. Another perfect drop, and the same incident repeated. But again the dam held. Next came Sqn. Leader Young. He cleared the dam, and a colossal wall of water swept right over it. Gibson could have sworn that the dam moved, but it still held.
Gibson called in Maltby. Maltby was hit on one wing, but at the very edge. He came in, dropped his mine, and got out of there. Again water swept over the dam, but now the whole valley was filled with smoke. As Gibson came around, he was about to call in Shannon, but he saw that the dam just wasn't there anymore. A hundred-yard breach in the wall! He told Huthcinson, his Radio operator to report to base
Back at the Operations Room in bomber command, Wallis and Harris were sitting on their fifth cup of coffee. The only news so far was of disaster. Hutch's slow morse began coming through...
"Dash-dot-dot....Dash-dot...Dash-Dash-Dot...."
""NIGGER"" the reciever yelled. "They've breached the Moehne!''
The news was too much for Wallis to bear. He threw his cup of coffee and he danced around like a wild African tribal. It was too much for him.
Gibson ordered Maltby and Micky to go home. He mustered the remaining five and headed for the Eder. They found the dam in a deep valley with high, forest-covered hills around it. The run was hazardous. The aircraft had to go over a gothic castle, drop quickly from 1000 to 60 feet, drop the mine, and then climb steeply to avoid a hill beyond the dam.
Shannon came in first, but was unsuccessful in dropping the mine. It repeated three times, and Gibson called in Maudsley to relieve him. In his third run, he dropped his mine, but not accurately. The mine hit the wall and exploded on impact, taking with it Maudsley and his Lanc
Shannon came in again. In his second run, he managed to get into the perfect position. His mine hit the dam accurately. Next came in Knight. Two abortive runs. Gibson sighed as he looked at his watch. it was 0140 already, and the eastern sky had hints of lightning. Knight's third run hit the dam and finally the Eder crumbled.
Brown, of the reserves was sent to the Sorpe. He dropped his mine, and witnessed the wall come down. He set course to return. It is unknown as to what happened to the aircraft sent to the Lister and Ennepe dams.
Ten of the nineteen Lancaster aircraft of Squadron 617 were coming home. The eastern sky was lightening every minute, increasing risk from German fighters. Young was shot over the Dutch coast, as he was returning.
Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross. 32 other aircrew were also decorated. The total cost of this mission was Nine Lancasters lost, 54 dead.
Reconnaissance over the next two days showed empty reservoirs and flooding. An entire airfield was underwater, and the town of Kassel was strangled.
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