When 617 Squadron (initially known as Squadron X) was formed in March 1943, Lancaster squadrons Bomber Command were requested to donate suitable aircrew for a special operation. It seems that crews volunteered or were recommended, either as full crews or as individual crew members. The following list gives the 133 names of the aircrew that … More RAF Squadrons that provided crews to 617 Dambuster Squadron
Discussions about attacking dams in Germany in the event of conflict in Europe had started before WW2. In late 1940 Wallis had taken his idea of attacking the Möhne and Eder Dams to the Building Research Establishment (BRE), or as it was known at that time the Building Research Station (BRS) near Watford where engineering … More All the Dambuster Dams
A minute-by-minute account of the famous Dambuster Raid by 19 special Avro Lancaster bombers and their ‘Bouncing Bombs’ which took place during the evening of 16 – 17 May 1943. My book, with some unique documents, gives the true storey of the Flight Engineer of Dambuster Z-Zebra. My book which includes some unique documents – … More Operation Chastise – The Dambusters a minute-by-minute account
A chance discussion with my neighbour Norma when I bumped into her on a dog walk turned into an incredible journey of discovery into what really happened during the most famous of all wartime stories – The Dambusters. Norma’s uncle, Jack Marriott was one of the Dambusters, the Flight Engineer of AJ-Z who was sadly, … More THE HIGH PEAK DAMBUSTER
Argentina, and the day – Saturday the 17th of September 1955. It was the second day of the Revolución Libertadora: the Liberation Revolution in which Argentinian rebels, including sections of the military, rose up against the government of General Juan Domingo Perón. After several days of bloody fighting rebel forces overthrew those loyal to the … More The day a Lincoln bombed a Lancaster, and a Meteor shot a Meteor shooting a Lincoln
Whilst researching the Dambuster attack on the Eder Dam I came across an interesting snippet of history. It was told to me by my sister’s friend G.C. who was in the RAF in the early 50s. In 1952 G.C. was based in Germany at RAF Wahn which is now the modern day Cologne Bonn International … More Milk run over the Eder Dam
The Dambuster Raids, or more correctly Operation Chastise is without doubt the most famous bombing mission of the Second World War (at least here in Britain). Over 75 years on everybody has heard about the ‘bouncing bomb’ and the hero pilot Guy Gibson. Most people, if they only know of one RAF Squadron, it will … More What happened to the Lancasters used on the Dambuster Raid?
The relationship between Manchester the city, and Lancaster the bomber is well documented. Many of us will also know that the Lancaster bomber originally started out as the Manchester bomber and that Avro, the aviation manufacturing company responsible for the Manchester and Lancaster bombers started in, and fortuitously remained Manchester based for the entire life … More From Manchester to Lincoln via Lancaster – An aviation aristocracy family tree
The Dambuster Raids, or more correctly Operation Chastise is without doubt the most famous bombing mission of the Second World War (at least here in Britain). 75 years on everybody has heard about the bouncing bomb and the flawed hero pilot Guy Gibson. Most people, if they only know of one RAF Squadron, it will … More Testing and training for the Dambuster Raids – what’s left to see?
PLESZAK 