617 Squadron, more popularly known as 'The Dambusters’
Nineteen Lancasters departed from RAF Scampton near Lincoln on the night of 16th May 1943. Their destination was the Ruhr Valley where their mission was to destroy three dams - the Eder, the Mohne, and the Sorpe.
Of the 19 aircraft that left the base eight failed to return, but despite these losses the mission was considered a success with two of the dams breached and the third damaged.
The innovative 'bouncing' bomb spun as it was dropped from the plane. This allowed it to skim across the surface of the water and then cling to the face of the dam and roll down it's wall to the base where it would cause maximum damage.
617 Squadron were one of the squadrons based at the Petwood Hotel. The Squadron Bar features much memorabilia and on Station Road, Woodhall Spa, the memorial in the shape of a dam can be found. Based at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby is Just Jane – an original Lancaster bomber. Visitors to the centre can see the Lancaster in all it's glory and may be lucky enough to see it taxi down the runway. The designer of the Lancaster was Roy Chadwick.
FACT: The Derwent and Howden Dams built between 1901-1916, were used as training grounds for the attack on the Great Dams of Western Germany in World War II.
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