This afternoon I started some of the route planning for the Dambusters2013 ride in May. The bulk of riders will either cross via the Dover-Calais route or the Hull to Rotterdam / Harwich-Hook of Holland routes. My thinking is that the best thing will be to suggest to riders crossing on the Dover-Calais route to follow a track which will bring them up to join the 'primary route' somewher near Roosendaal. From there, the route I suggest will be based upon that followed by the Lancaster flown by Sqn Ldr David Maltby DSO, AJ-J, on the night of 16th/17th May 1943. This is the only known picture of AJ-J in flight:
We have a clear record of his route to and from the Mohne dam in the Navigation Log recorded by his navigator, Sgt V Nicholson,for the night of the raid.
We will also be suggesting 'relevant places of interest' which Dambusters2013 might like to stop at en-route to the Mohne such as the grave of Wg Cdr G Gibson VC at Steenbergen, or the memorial at the crash sites of the 617 Sqdn Lancasters flown by F/L Astell near Marbeck and F/L Hopgood at Ostonnen. Directions to each of these 'places of interest' will be part of the Rider Pack which all Dambusters2013 will receive in return for their 'donation of £250 at the dedicated Dambusters2013 Virgin Money Giving site which will be released next week.
Are you a biker and not yet signed up to ride with Dambusters2013?? Visit www.dambusters2013.org.uk to find out more about us and what we are doing in May 2013.
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