Ross Forsyth - tigerfastimagery
Dambusters 70th Anniversary
The 16th of May 2013 represented the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters of 617 Squadron Royal Air Forces daring raid to destroy 2 of the main dams in the Ruhr Industial area,these being the Mohne and Sorpe dams with the Eder Dam as a secondary target. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson 19 Lancaster bombers departed to carry out Operation Chastise with the use of the now famous Barnes Wallis "Bouncing Bomb". 8 aircraft and 53 aircrew would fail to return from the mission. The mission was a great success. The aircraft depicted in the pictures represent a Spitfire of 541 sqn which carried out reconnaissance of the area before the attacks,a pair of Tornado Gr4`s with a commemorative tail design from the current 617sqn "Dambusters" and last but not least the Lancaster of the BBMF in the markings of 617Sqn and carrying the name "Thumper".
The Derwent Dam and Ladybower Reservoir were used during the build up to the mission due to similairity in terrain to that which the crews would have to fly over to complete their mission.
Dambusters 70th Anniversary
The 16th of May 2013 represented the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters of 617 Squadron Royal Air Forces daring raid to destroy 2 of the main dams in the Ruhr Industial area,these being the Mohne and Sorpe dams with the Eder Dam as a secondary target. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson 19 Lancaster bombers departed to carry out Operation Chastise with the use of the now famous Barnes Wallis "Bouncing Bomb". 8 aircraft and 53 aircrew would fail to return from the mission. The mission was a great success. The aircraft depicted in the pictures represent a Spitfire of 541 sqn which carried out reconnaissance of the area before the attacks,a pair of Tornado Gr4`s with a commemorative tail design from the current 617sqn "Dambusters" and last but not least the Lancaster of the BBMF in the markings of 617Sqn and carrying the name "Thumper".
The Derwent Dam and Ladybower Reservoir were used during the build up to the mission due to similairity in terrain to that which the crews would have to fly over to complete their mission.