On the night of May 16, 1943, a Squadron of nineteen Lancaster bombers departed from Scampton Airfield in Lincolnshire destined for the German industrial heartland.

Their targets were three of the most important dams in the Ruhr Valley - the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe. Successfully destroying them would seriously disrupt German manufacturing, hamper their war effort and in turn, effect the morale of the German people.

617 Squadron, or the 'Dambusters', as they became known, were led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a highly decorated twenty-four year old pilot and leader. He and his men were charged with carrying Sir Barnes Wallis' revolutionary 'bouncing bomb' right into the heart of enemy territory on one the first low altitude wartime bombing raids.

The raid constituted one of the most audacious events of the War, but plans for the destruction of the dams had been in circulation since 1937. However, two key elements were lacking - a weapon capable of inflicting the required damage and a method of delivering it. The breakthrough would come from a middle-aged engineer, Sir Barnes Wallis.

Next page >