The event that Dambusters2013 is commemorating ...

It is sometimes easy to forget the reality of the event which Dambusters2013 is commemorating. You think about the ride itself, the routes, the event at RAF Scampton, the charities we are raising the funds for .... but at the root of the whole event is one of the most famous bombing raids of all time. It is also important to see things from both sides. The RAF lost 8 Lancasters out of 19 and 53 aircrew were killed. For those living in the shadow of the dams it was a far greater calamity. In fact, it is known locally as 'The Great Disaster'. Approaching 2000 people lost their lives in the flooding and devastation that followed.

Dambusters2013 is genuinely commemorating the loss of lives on both sides and using this act of rememberance on the 70th anniversary of the raid on the night of 16th/17th May 1943 as a catalyst to raise money for two very worthwhile charities, Help for Heroes (www.helpforheroes.org.uk) and Motorcycle Outreach (www.motorcycleoutreach.org). More details of the Dambusters2013 70th Anniversary Charity Motorcycle Ride can be found at www.dambusters2013.org.uk

Nineteen of twenty-one Lancasters of 617 Squadron attacked the dams; Gibson's crew took off at 2139 Hours. Gibson later said, "We were flying so low that more than once 'Spam' yelled at me to pull up quickly to avoid high-tension wires and tall trees." Gibson's bomb exploded short of the dam itself at 0028 Hours, but two other Lancasters successfully breeched the Mohne Dam minutes later. Gibson then led the remaining Lancasters against the Eder between 0130 and 0200 Hours, again successfully breeching the dam. However, eight of the nineteen bombers were shot down or caught in the explosions of their own bombs. Due to the low altitude, only three of the downed airmen survived to be taken prisoner. Gibson and 76 other aircrew of 617 Squadron returned to base; 53 were killed.

On the ground, at least 1,650 people were killed in the resultant flooding of the Ruhr Valley; 1,026 were prisoners of war, including 526 Soviet women in the town of Neheim. Unknown numbers of livestock perished, and much viable farmland flooded, which impeded food production the following season.

The Operations Record Book of 617 sqdn condenses the event into a short concise entry shown below:

The aftermath for the Ruhr Valley can be seen in pictures more effectively than with words. The Mohne Dam breached with water pouring through the gap hours after the raid....

 

The Eder valley completely submerged as the flood water crashed through it ...

For the 617 Sqdn aircrew the elation to have survived followed by fame and decorations for many.

 

 

The purpose of this slightly rambling blog post ...... I suppose to re-focus upon the event we are remembering, the sacrifice and loss of life on both sides, the bravery and the loss.

 

Dambusters2013 is also about using the 70th anniversary of the raid to raise some cash to do some good in the world. To support the recovery and rehabilitation of our service men and women hurt in Iraq or Afghanistan through Help for Heroes; to bring medical help and support to remote villages in Indonisia through Motorcycle Outreach.

 

 

Dambusters2013 70th Anniversary Charity Motorcycle Ride takes place between 14th and 17th may 2013. Visit www.dambusters2013.org.uk for details and to get involved.