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Operation Chastise or The Dambusters Raid . 80th Anniversary 16/17 May 1943.

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  • Used to live in a village south of RAF Coningsby in the 90s. Open fields at the back our house. Lancaster came right over the top of the house flying really low a couple of times. Was an an incredible sight.
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,595
    Used to live in a village south of RAF Coningsby in the 90s. Open fields at the back our house. Lancaster came right over the top of the house flying really low a couple of times. Was an an incredible sight.
    I was in the garden centre at the crossroads at Keaton a few years ago and it came in, wheels down at what seemed like tree top height on its way to Biggin Hill. Awesome sight 
  • Lewis Coaches
    Lewis Coaches Posts: 5,408
    Anyone that lives around this route it’s well worth keeping an eye on the sky, you will remember it for along time.
    Don’t forget take pictures of the flypast.
  • Anyone that lives around this route it’s well worth keeping an eye on the sky, you will remember it for along time.
    Don’t forget take pictures of the flypast.
    Unfortunately I'm in Turkey so will miss it, so any photos would be appreciated. 
  • Used to live in a village south of RAF Coningsby in the 90s. Open fields at the back our house. Lancaster came right over the top of the house flying really low a couple of times. Was an an incredible sight.
    What village did you live in ?...if you don't mind me asking ...hopefully it comes a bit further south than is shown on the map..looking to get a few pics.
  • Lewis Coaches
    Lewis Coaches Posts: 5,408
    Tonight we are by this crashsite of one of The Dambusters.

    RIP
  • AndyG
    AndyG Posts: 5,906
    I was watching a piece on the news today and they were interviewing a bomb aimer from the raid ( I'm sorry sir but I cant remember your name ) he has now passed away but he made the pilot make 10 ! Yes 10!!! Extra bomb runs at a dam as he wasnt happy with the previous runs. They were truly a class apart as a generation. However it did make me chuckle to myself I wonder how popular he was at the time with the rest of the crew 😂

  • Off_it
    Off_it Posts: 28,845
    Off_it said:

    Thats some photo, taken during the war I would have thought? Lincoln by any chance?
    Actually, I took it last week - whilst watching The Dambusters on Channel 5! ;-)


  • bingaddick
    bingaddick Posts: 8,181
    edited May 2023
    Tonight we are by this crashsite of one of The Dambusters.

    RIP
    "Dinghy" Young - one of the two flight commanders of 617 Squadron. The other being Henry Maudsley. Both crews were lost.

    RIP 

    In total 8 aircraft out of 19 were lost.

    A total of 53 aircrew were killed - 3 survived being shot down.

    Gibson won the VC. He was grounded immediately afterwards but his crew of G-George continued and were killed in the next raid the squadron took part in.

    Gibson himself was shot down and killed in 1944 having returned for one more operation, this time in a Mosquito.

    This raid was carried out at night, at very low level, and the bombs were dropped over water at 60 feet. 

    They breached the Moene and Eider dams and damaged two others. In my opinion, this was the most extraordinary flying achievement of the war and probably of all time. Whatever we might think about the military impact of the raid or the whole subject of bombing, these men were extraordinarily skilled and courageous.  
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  • Lewis Coaches
    Lewis Coaches Posts: 5,408
    The sun sets over Castricum aan Zee .
    80 years ago to the day that 617 Squardron flew to the Dams in The Ruhr Valley.

    RIP  AVRO Lancaster ED 887 AJ-A and all crew members who died that night.
  • Crusty54
    Crusty54 Posts: 3,231
    The Lancaster flew over the RAF Museum at Hendon yesterday before heading to Lincolnshire.Took some pictures.