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History
of the Dambuster Squadron. Royal Air Force Lancaster Squadron
617 in
aviation art prints. Avro Lancaster's of Wing Commander Guy
Gibson and Flt Lt Mickey Martin during the attack on
the Eder Dam and Mohne Dam on the Ruhr. These superb aviation art
prints available from aviationprints.co.uk.
Operation
Chastise - The Night They Broke the Dams by Ivan Berryman. Guy
Gibsons Lancaster having unsuccessfully dropped its bomb, draws enemy
fire from the aircraft of Sqn Ldr Young as his bomb explodes
spectacularly on the Mohne Dam during the audacious Dams Raids of
16th/17th May 1943.
Third
Time Lucky by Ivan Berryman. Standing
his aircraft at the height of just 60 feet above the waters of the Mohne,
Flt Lt Maltby braves a hail of anti-aircraft fire just seconds before
the release of the bouncing bomb that would at last breach the dam on
that historic night of the 16th/17th May 1943.
Goner 78A - The Dambusters
Raid by Tim Fisher The fourth attack on the Mohne Dam led
by Sqd Ldr H M Young, piloting AJ-A (ED877/G). In the background to his
starboard side is Flt Lt H B Martin, flying AJ-P (ED909/G), who was
drawing fire away from the attacking aircraft by flashing his
identification lights and turning on the spotlight altitude indicators.
Wing Cdr G P Gibson's aircraft is out of sight, engaging enemy fire at
the far side of the dam wall. The bomb was observed to make three good
bounces and exploded on contact exactly as Barnes Wallis had planned,
generating a vast column of water. Although it was not obvious at that
instant, this was the attack which succeeded in breaching the dam.
However, it was not until the next attack by Flt D J H Maltby that it
was realised that the dam was crumbling. The code word sent out by Young
signified; Goner (bomb released) 7 (exploded in contact with the dam) 8
(no apparent breach) A (Mohne dam). Young's aircraft was lost with all
lives on its return to Scampton possibly around 02.58 near
Castricum-ann-Zee, north of Ijmuiden.
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 | Moonlight Run (Dambusters) by Ivan Berryman. | £95.00 |  | The Night They Broke the Dams by Ivan Berryman. | 2 editions available from £24.00 |  | The Dambusters by Ivan Berryman. | 2 editions available from £24.00 |  | Goner 78A - The Dambusters Raid by Tim Fisher. | 4 editions available from £79.80 |  | Gibson VC by Graeme Lothian. | 5 editions available from £135.00 |  | The Dambusters by Graeme Lothian. | 6 editions available from £58.00 |  | The Dambusters by Simon Smith. | 2 editions available from £135.00 |  | Gibson by Robert Tomlin. | £50.00 |  | Third Time Lucky by Ivan Berryman. | 5 editions available from £95.00 |  | Operation Chastise - The Night They Broke the Dams by Ivan Berryman. | 5 editions available from £95.00 |  | Primary Target by Philip West. | £135.00 |  | Homeward Bound by Nicolas Trudgian. | 4 editions available from £140.00 |  | Eye of the Storm - The Dambusters by Philip West. | 3 editions available from £95.00 |  | Primary Target by Philip West - Original Sketch. (P) | SOLD OUT / SOLD |  | Breaching the Eder by Simon Smith. | 2 editions available from £95.00 |  | Dambusters Outward Bound by Simon Smith. | 2 editions available from £95.00 |  | Dambusters - The Impossible Mission by Robert Taylor. (C) | 4 editions available from £ |  | Dambusters - The Morning After by Gerald Coulson. | 2 editions available from £135.00 |  | Dambusters - Breaching the Eder Dam by Robert Taylor. | 5 editions available from £200.00 |  | Dambusters, May 1943 by Peter Read. | £45.00 |  | Now They Know We Are Here! by P E Holland. | £34.00 |  | Gibson Over the Mohne by Keith Aspinall. | £22.00 |  | Tonight We Make History by Keith Aspinall. | £18.00 |  | Operation Chastise - The Dambuster Raids by Keith Woodcock. | £70.00 |  | Operation Chastise - The Dambuster Raid by Barry Price. | £80.00 |  | Dam Busters Setting Off by Simon Atack. | £34.00 |
| Breaching the Eder by Simon Smith
Depicts Lancaster AJ-N of pilot officer Les Knight having just
dropped the final bomb which actually breached the dam, climbing steeply
to avoid the mountain behind the dam. So moved by Simon Smith's
reproduction of the event, Flight Lieutenant Edward C Johnson DFC took
the unprecedented step of endorsing the painting itself with his
signature, as well as the first 400 copies of the print.
Signature: Edward C Johnson - bomb aimer, Ray Grayston - Flight
Engineer, Frederick Sutherland - RCAF Rear Gunner.
This epic story of the Dam Busters needs
little introduction. An elite squadron of hand-picked airmen were put
together under the command of Wing commander Guy Gibson. Their mission
was to destroy the hydroelectric dams of the Ruhr, causing millions of
tons of water to crash into the German munitions factories. The best
known of the dams is of course, the heavily defended Mohna which was the
first to be breached. Having destroyed this dam, five of the remaining
aircraft, only three still carrying Barnes Wallis' famous 'Upkeep' bomb
flew onto their second, but no less important target, the Eder Dam.
Although defended by flak, the Eder was surrounded on all sides by steep
mountains making the approach extremely hazardous.
The Dambusters by Simon Smith Gibson and Martins attack run 16th May 1943.
Signed by five crew, Edward C Johnson - bomb aimer, Ray Grayston - Flight
Engineer, Frederick Sutherland - RCAF Rear Gunner, George Chalmers and George Johnson
Tonight We Make History by Keith Aspinall Guy
Gibson, Micky Martin and John Hopgood outward bound from Scampton on the
evening of 16th May 1943.
Dambusters Outward Bound by Simon Smith Depicts the aircraft setting out over Norfolk prior to their epic
mission, available signed by artist only or also countersigned by
two members of the squadron. and artist proofs with two further members of this
elite squad.This epic story of the Dam Busters needs little introduction. An
elite squadron of hand-picked airmen were put together under the command
of Wing commander Guy Gibson. Their mission was to destroy the
hydroelectric dams of the Ruhr, causing millions of tons of water to
crash into the German munitions factories. The best known of the dams is
of course, the heavily defended Mohne which was the first to be
breached. Having destroyed this dam, five of the remaining aircraft,
only three still carrying Barnes Wallis' famous 'Upkeep' bomb flew onto
their second, but no less important target, the Eder Dam. Although
defended by flak, the Eder was surrounded on all sides by steep
mountains making the approach extremely hazardous.
Target Y "The Eder Dam Raid",
The Rhur Valley, 17th May 1942 by David Pentland At 0154am, Pilot officer Les Knight in Avro Lancaster
AJ-N
transmitted the codeword "Dinghy", the signal that the Eder
Dam had been successfully breached. Although the target was undefended
by flak, its location made it extremely difficult to hit. In fact, four
of the five aircraft involved in the attack failed in their attempts and
Knights' was the last available aircraft carrying the last available
bomb!
Gibson by
Robert Tomlin Guy Gibson in his specially modified Avro
Lancaster, makes his first run over the Mohne Dam to create a legend that
will live forever. |
Eye of the Storm - The
Dambusters by Philip
West Wing
Commander Gibsons aircraft in the foreground and Flt. Lt. Martins in the
distance, both draw flak away from Sqn. Ldr. Youngs Lancaster after it
has dropped its Bouncing Bomb and makes its escape over the Mohne Dam.
Lead by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, 19 Lancasters departed their home
base in three waves, each aircraft armed with a single bouncing bomb
developed by Barnes Wallis. The targets were German dams in the heart of
the industrial Ruhr. The resulting attacks breached the Mohne and Eder
Dams with attempts also on the Sorpe and Schwelme Dams. For his
leadership and courage, Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross. 34 other
men also received decorations.
Operation Chastise - The Dambuster Raid by Barry Price
617 Squadron took off from RAF Scampton led by Wg Cdr G P Gibson.
Specially adapted Lancasters were used. The fourth aircraft to attack, AJ@A (ED877) piloted by Sqn Ldr H M Young was the aircraft which breached
the Mohne Dam. The attack was carried out under the a full moon for
maximum nighttime visibility. The mine was released at an altitude of 60ft
at 220mph. Codename for the cylindrical mine was 'Upkeep'. Diameter
50", length 60". Of the 19 who set out only 8 failed to return.
Moonlight Run (Dambusters) by Ivan Berryman
In one of the finest portrayals of the Avro Lancaster,
"Moonlight Run" depicts the aircraft of Fl. Lt.
"Mickey" Martin (ED909 AJ-P) at the moment of release of the
Wallace Bomb during the Dams raid on the Ruhr in 1943. With only the
gentlest of moonlight rippling over the dark water of the Mohne, this
dramatic picture plays homage to the impossible low altitudes and high
speeds that were necessary to complete successfully their heroic
mission. A stark and refreshing treatment of a subject at the hearts of
all aviation historians.
Homeward Bound by Nicolas Trudgian. No single raid during World War Two has attracted more discussion,
analysis, features, books, interviews, or been the subject of more films,
documentaries, and TV programmes than the famous attack mounted by the
RAF's 617 Squadron upon the mighty hydroelectric dams in Westphalia, on
the night of 16/17 May, 1943. led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson,
nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers, manned by 133 aircrew,
culminated months of secret training when they made one of the most
audacious raids of the war. Flying at tree top height in darkness,
and doing their best to avoid electricity pylons and other obstructions,
they navigated their way deep into occupied territory. Their targets
were the huge Mohne, Sorpe, Ennepe, and Eder Dams that powered Germany's
huge industrial factories in the heartland of the Ruhr. Each bomber
had to avoid enemy flak and fighters en route, locate their target,
descend to precisely 60 feet above the water then, in the face of a
barrage of anti-aircraft fire, release their single unique 10,000lb
hydrostatic bomb at exactly the right moment. There was no margin
for error, and there was no place for faint hearts. Eight of the
crews that left RAF Scampton that night were never to return. Of the
fifty-six aircrew on boar only two survived. Though nearly half the
skilled crews that made up 617 squadron were lost, they recorded one
of the most successful and daring air raids of the war - a costly
endeavour, but one that has become legend in the annals of aerial warfare. |
| The Dambusters. Breaching The Mohne by
Gerald Coulson On the night of 16th/17th May 1943 Wing Commander Guy Gibson led a
small force of 19 Lancaster's of 617 Squadron on what was to become
one of the most daring and ingenious raids in history. Flying from
RAF Scampton their mission - code named Operation Chastise - was to breach
the mighty hydroelectric dams of the Ruhr, Mohne, Eder and Sorpe, a task
which Arthur Harris had earlier described as impossible.
Months of preparation had preceded the attack with the Squadron
practicing the use of their unique bouncing bombs - code named Upkeep -
the brain child of the brilliant Barnes Wallis. The actual targets
were only revealed to the crew's a short time before their departure
however this elite unit were under no illusions as to the dangers of their
mission. Flying at altitudes as low as fifty feet and observing
strict radio silence they would face heavy flak and ground fire crossing
Holland to Germany. On the run in to the target, using their height
finding spotlights they would have to fly in complete darkness at
precisely 60 feet before their lethal cargo could be released.
Gerald Coulson has used his undeniable skills to recreate the attack on
the Mohne Dam as Mick Martin's aircraft pulls away from the target. His
9,250lb bomb explodes behind him and although not actually breaching the
dam wall, sends a huge plume of water into the air leaving a fine mist
hanging in the atmosphere. Guy Gibson having already made his run
flies to Martin's right, lights on full drawing gun fire from the towers.
Below them the power station hit by John Hopgood's bomb on the previous
run is still engulfed in flames.
The Dambusters Raid was probably the most brilliant air attack of the
Second World War but the success was not without its cost. Of the 19
aircraft that took part in the mission eight failed to return, in fact
only 6 returned unscathed, with the loss of 53 aircrew. The
destruction of the Mohne and Eder Dams released over 150 million gallons
of water into the Ruhr valley and caused widespread flooding and severe
interruption to industry, communications and various utilities. One
of the most important consequences was that over 20,000 men had to be
redeployed by the enemy to repair the damage. Following the raid no fewer than 33 aircrew received decorations for
gallantry, including Gibson's award of the Victoria Cross.
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