Sixty-three years ago tonight….

The DJ tonight (to his merit) mentioned the dambusters, and mixed in the theme for a few seconds. Bought the lad a pint…

“Steady…. steady….!”

I know its a bit late coming but here’s what eyebrook reservoir looked like on the 60th of the dams raid

To think that at the age of some of these men who were way younger than I now were given the task of flying to find a duck pond in Germany, at night and with then having to fly at 60 feet above the pond and skip a spinning mine into a dam, if you ask men in their 20s today they would not think it at all possible.

Men of the Dam Raids I salute you one and all.

Well worth a flying visit to the present day scene. This from a recent trip of mine:

Wow you can still see the damage from that night.

Are the morden day 617 sqn doing anything at all?

God Bless to each and every one of them who took part.

Amen.

James

Terrain around the dam areas is tough enough in daylight. Much harder at night during a partial blackout and at low level.

It is not so much that there is any particularly high ground, rather that the winding nature of the water obstructs line of sight onto the dams both for bombers and would-be photographers.

Here goes!

The third shot, I believe, is of the castle used as a rallying point during the raid.

If you look closely at my shots (and certainly in real life), the repair work is still clearly evident.

A while ago I’m sure I posted a photo of the Moehne dam, taken around the ’60s, and you can still see the repair work in it. I’ll see if I can find it.

dams raid Thoght this might be of interest…..

I have just got back from the base… I went to say hello to Nigger, and a prayer for those who are no longer with us… God bless you all.

There’s an eary feeling up there tonight… The only sound came from an owl somewhere on the base. I’d have loved to the BBMF to have brought the Lancaster up for the evening… Just for the sound alone!

Anyway, while it’s a awful photograph, I thought I’d share this with you… It was taken tonight, 16th may 2006!

Thanks Trinny.

It’s bizarre to see Smirnoff sponsoring the plaque outside Colditz.

And a toast to the Dambusters.

The photos were taken by a good friend from the RHS of my light single around 18 months ago. The entire photoset can be seen here:

http://www.stevelevien.com/colditz1.htm

Nice pics Trinny. When did you take those and from what?

Well worth a flying visit to the present day scene. This from a recent trip of mine:

Mohne Dam

Sorpe Dam

Eder Dam

A glass duely raised.

Yes, and at midnight i shall stand on the airfield at Scampton a say a quiet prayer.
God Bless to each and every one of them.
AE Ldr

Hi.
Just finished reading ” The Men Who Breached The Dams” By Alan Cooper,
It’s got to be the best Book i’ve ever read about the dams raid.
P.S The wife is on nights so i think i’ll stay up and read a bit again
round about 12.30. Bomber Commands Finest Hour.

Sixty-three years ago this evening, 133 brave men of 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force, set out from RAF Scampton to attack the Ruhr dams. Eight crews failed to return, 53 being killed in action. Although it was largely successful and a magnificent morale raiser the greater strategic effect of the mission has long been debated. Whatever the outcome was, let us not forget to raise a glass to those men tonight. Their collective achievement was undoubtedly a supreme act of innovation, planning, determination and flying skill that is unlikely ever to be bettered.

Amen.

God bless them each and every one of them.