In May 1943, the Royal Air Force launched one of the most audacious missions of World War Two, known as Operation Chastise. A newly created squadron, 617 Squadron, undertook a spectacular, moonlit mission. That feat was made possible primarily by a multinational team—from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—of 133 airmen. They sought to destroy key dams across Germany. These dams were used to deliver the water and hydroelectric energy these factories needed to crank out armaments for the Nazi war machine.
This highly complex mission, known as the Dambusters Raid, featured 19 modified Lancaster bombers launched in three separate waves each attacking a different dam. The planning and conduct of the operation were highly classified. Most of the newly formed squadron members were never informed of their mission until shortly before takeoff. Even with this unmatched security, the airmen confronted heavy fires from the enemy all along their route, as well as difficult terrain, including mountains and swamps.
As the bombers flew ever closer to their targets, they carried with them a potent new weapon. This was the bouncing bomb, quite ingeniously conceived by British inventor Barnes Wallis. This experimental munition was specifically designed to bounce on the water’s surface before it detonated against the dam walls. The Möhne Dam was the most dangerous target to approach, with the planes flying through valleys and German defenses.
Tragically, the raid resulted in heavy losses. Of the 19 Lancaster bombers sent out, eight were either damaged by flak or shot down over the target that night. At least three planes met their doom when they veered off course and two others into high-voltage transmission lines. Only 48 of the 133 airmen that took part in the raid would live to see the end of the war.
The human toll extended beyond the aircrew. The raid caused significant civilian casualties, with estimates of 1,200 to 1,600 lives lost, including 749 prisoners of war, many of whom were enslaved female laborers from Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.
In recognition of the bravery he showed during the raid, Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was celebrated for his outstanding leadership as the commanding officer of 617 Squadron. There were 33 other airmen similarly recognized for their significant contributions to this historic and complex mission. The effectiveness of the operation put a tremendous burden on Barnes Wallis. He was said to be “devastated” at the death toll among the aircrew.
“Barnes Wallis burst into tears and said, ‘I’ve killed all those young men. I’ll never do anything like that again.’” – George ‘Johnny’ Johnson
The loss of these important dams required Adolf Hitler to redirect major resources toward reconstruction. Second, the diversion of men and money was disastrous to his soldiers battling on the Eastern Front. It significantly weakened subsequent efforts to improve Nazi coastal defenses.
Jack Buckley, a veteran airman who played a key role in the mission, described that day in dramatic fashion. He recounted their experiences flying at great speeds and having to keep a very specific altitude while operating in extreme weather conditions.
“We circled, we had to be 60ft exactly, we had a spotlight in the nose of the aircraft and a spotlight in the tail and they converged at exactly 60ft.” – Jack Buckley
Buckley remembered the day when they first heard that their mission had succeeded.
“Number five was [pilot David] Maltby, well, he dropped his weapon successfully. We were just on the run in and Gibson called us off – the dam was gone.” – Jack Buckley
Buckley went on to consider the larger consequences of their decision-making in times of war.
“I still felt that what we did, we had to do to the best of our ability, but it made me realize how much other effects war has on non-combatants, the civilians, the number of people that are killed.” – George ‘Johnny’ Johnson
While they were militarily effective, many who took part wrestled with the moral ambiguities of what they did.
The Dambusters raid was a key episode, and yet mythologising Dambusters as reality misses an important point. Thus it is fêted for its innovative military tactics, but mourned for the tragic human cost it exacted. The airmen exhibited astounding gallantry. It was their steadfast devotion to the cause that represented one of the most significant turning points in a struggle that reshaped world history.
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