Like most of us born in the 50`s, I too read said book over and over again, managed to obtain Enemy Coast Ahead and carried on in my aim to be a pilot in the RAF.
Unfortunately, my medical condition only allowed employment in ground trades.
Many years later I found myself as passenger in a T7 thundering over the dams on a beautiful, if unusually clear sunny spring morning. Thankfully in those days, low flying was still de rigeur and I marvelled at how things flowed by at 250ft and unspeakably fast! Incredibly, I managed to rattle off some photos in spite of being cramped down in 4G turns!!
Having also visited the Mohne and Eder on the ground, its only when you walk out along the parapet that the sheer enormity of the mission and its requirements hit home.
After more than 34 years in the service and now retired, my admiration for this inspirational operation remains. An opportunity to explore the BBMF Lancaster from inside completed my unplanned but welcomed "boys own tour"
Must be something in the Bitburger, as I moved to within 5 miles of the Mosel river!