Operation Chastise 69th Anniversary
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Operation Chastise 69th Anniversary
Tomorrow, 16 May, is the 69th anniversary of Operation Chastise/Dambusters/617 Sqn.
Two weeks ago, I decided to visit the Moehne, Eder & Sorpe dams as my own tribute to the brave men of 617 Sqn. Departing my base on the Moselle river, I mounted my trusty motorcycle and sallied forth, terrifying sundry old ladies along my route.
The end of day 1 saw me with a bum like a Japanese flag, and positioned for an overnight stay in Guetersloh town, my stamping ground for 4yrs in the mid/late 80's. Dear God, the Army have turned the main gate of the camp into a fortress; however, I was able to glimpse the Sgt's Mess from the roadway. I tried to conjure up memories of the bar therein, but gave up.
Day 2 noon & I'm sitting on the parapet of the Moehne dam with my decrepit c.1960 Pan paperback Dambusters book (Brickhill), reading the account of the attack. All very vivid, and the water level was as high as it was in 1943 - very near the top of the dam. I was able to find clear evidence of .303 bullet strikes on the top stones of the parapets - those on the towers seem to have been airbrushed out. 617's gunners had been busy indeed.
So, jumping onto Mr Honda's finest, I tore off south to the Sorpe (30mins ride). The very different construction of this dam is evident; massive earth banking fore & aft of a concrete core. I couldn't really see how they expected to crack this one - the weapon was delivered by flying along the line of the dam, and was not rotated before release. 617 did re-arrange the parapet promenade though.
On the bike again & off to the Eder (great weather all 3 days of the trip). This is a 2hr ride east through lovely country (or c.15mins in a Lancaster, if you are pushed for time.....).
The Eder dam is of a similar construction to the Moehne. Although 617 did not encounter AAA here (the Germans thought its' best defence was the local terrain), the flying required to drop the weapon here was truly breathtaking. Diving steeply to water level via the valley just west of Schloss Waldeck, then turning c.90' left over the spit of land which extends from the south shore, they had 5-6 seconds to establish speed & height before reaching the drop point c.400m from the dam. Beyond the dam, the terrain immediately rises sharply on the left & in front; a very hard climbing turn to the right would be required. Oh, and by the way, it is night-time. The night of the attack was a full moon; staying at the very nice hotel on the north shore, close to the dam, I was able to walk along the dam on the first-quarter moon-lit night of my visit. The night was gin-clear; though 617 had a full moon, I marvelled at the bravery and skill of these very young men on that night 69 years ago.
I salute them all.
HB
Two weeks ago, I decided to visit the Moehne, Eder & Sorpe dams as my own tribute to the brave men of 617 Sqn. Departing my base on the Moselle river, I mounted my trusty motorcycle and sallied forth, terrifying sundry old ladies along my route.
The end of day 1 saw me with a bum like a Japanese flag, and positioned for an overnight stay in Guetersloh town, my stamping ground for 4yrs in the mid/late 80's. Dear God, the Army have turned the main gate of the camp into a fortress; however, I was able to glimpse the Sgt's Mess from the roadway. I tried to conjure up memories of the bar therein, but gave up.
Day 2 noon & I'm sitting on the parapet of the Moehne dam with my decrepit c.1960 Pan paperback Dambusters book (Brickhill), reading the account of the attack. All very vivid, and the water level was as high as it was in 1943 - very near the top of the dam. I was able to find clear evidence of .303 bullet strikes on the top stones of the parapets - those on the towers seem to have been airbrushed out. 617's gunners had been busy indeed.
So, jumping onto Mr Honda's finest, I tore off south to the Sorpe (30mins ride). The very different construction of this dam is evident; massive earth banking fore & aft of a concrete core. I couldn't really see how they expected to crack this one - the weapon was delivered by flying along the line of the dam, and was not rotated before release. 617 did re-arrange the parapet promenade though.
On the bike again & off to the Eder (great weather all 3 days of the trip). This is a 2hr ride east through lovely country (or c.15mins in a Lancaster, if you are pushed for time.....).
The Eder dam is of a similar construction to the Moehne. Although 617 did not encounter AAA here (the Germans thought its' best defence was the local terrain), the flying required to drop the weapon here was truly breathtaking. Diving steeply to water level via the valley just west of Schloss Waldeck, then turning c.90' left over the spit of land which extends from the south shore, they had 5-6 seconds to establish speed & height before reaching the drop point c.400m from the dam. Beyond the dam, the terrain immediately rises sharply on the left & in front; a very hard climbing turn to the right would be required. Oh, and by the way, it is night-time. The night of the attack was a full moon; staying at the very nice hotel on the north shore, close to the dam, I was able to walk along the dam on the first-quarter moon-lit night of my visit. The night was gin-clear; though 617 had a full moon, I marvelled at the bravery and skill of these very young men on that night 69 years ago.
I salute them all.
HB
Last edited by Halton Brat; 15th May 2012 at 13:27. Reason: Spulling.......
A remarkable feat of arms. I was lucky enough to attend the 50th reception at Scampton and meet some of them.
Best way to visit the Dams by road.
wonder where that ensign came from??
Took a JP over Ladybower (didn't everyone?). Had the pleasure of low flying over the Dams on a Germany det. Host squadron dude said after the flight "Hope you didn't go over the Dams below 1000'"
. "Oops, promise we won't do it again".
Best way to visit the Dams by road.
wonder where that ensign came from??
Took a JP over Ladybower (didn't everyone?). Had the pleasure of low flying over the Dams on a Germany det. Host squadron dude said after the flight "Hope you didn't go over the Dams below 1000'"
. "Oops, promise we won't do it again".
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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!
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!
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Circuit Clear, pls check your PM's.
HB
F3WMB
I see lots of those cars in the mirrors of my bike...........that's where they stay.........
HB
F3WMB
I see lots of those cars in the mirrors of my bike...........that's where they stay.........
Last edited by Halton Brat; 15th May 2012 at 14:32.
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Halton Brat, I made a point of making the same trip by motorbike on one of my last weekends at Gutersloh before my internment with the Army Air Corps finished. It was an absolutely splendid day out and a great way to conduct such a staff ride.
You are right about what the Army has done to Gutersloh - I nearly wept when I arrived, having previously been there when it was immaculate and bursting with RAF, the air filled with the whine of Harriers and the clatter of Pumas and Chinooks. The trucks and very few Lynx and Gazelle present (Bosnia was popular in those days) did not made quite such an inspiring racket. After catching up with some mates at Laarbruch one Friday night, I was treated to a PD from several Harriers the following Monday. The first phone call was from a very disgruntled Met officer who was upset I had not warned him to get his camera out. The second was from an even more disgruntled garrison colonel who wanted to know what all the noise was and who was going to explain it to the Stadt!
You are right about what the Army has done to Gutersloh - I nearly wept when I arrived, having previously been there when it was immaculate and bursting with RAF, the air filled with the whine of Harriers and the clatter of Pumas and Chinooks. The trucks and very few Lynx and Gazelle present (Bosnia was popular in those days) did not made quite such an inspiring racket. After catching up with some mates at Laarbruch one Friday night, I was treated to a PD from several Harriers the following Monday. The first phone call was from a very disgruntled Met officer who was upset I had not warned him to get his camera out. The second was from an even more disgruntled garrison colonel who wanted to know what all the noise was and who was going to explain it to the Stadt!
THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
I visited all the dams several times when stationed at EDUO ......... and once at night.
The total concept and execution was awe-inspiring, and the gallantry beyond belief.
RIP
I visited all the dams several times when stationed at EDUO ......... and once at night.
The total concept and execution was awe-inspiring, and the gallantry beyond belief.
RIP
617 did re-arrange the parapet promenade though
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1000' over the dam, jeez, you need oxygen at that height. So I'm not fessing up to how low I have flown across it 
(mohne). Those were the days, I went down the lake west -east in a Harrier T4 at very low level so the 1000' rule must be a relatively recent ruling. Flying the attack profile from overhead Soest eastbound to the final turn onto attack track is a bloody good way of aquiring respect for the Lancaster boys . The BBMF cab was banned from overflying it on the 50th anniversary so the Red Arrows did it instead.
(mohne). Those were the days, I went down the lake west -east in a Harrier T4 at very low level so the 1000' rule must be a relatively recent ruling. Flying the attack profile from overhead Soest eastbound to the final turn onto attack track is a bloody good way of aquiring respect for the Lancaster boys . The BBMF cab was banned from overflying it on the 50th anniversary so the Red Arrows did it instead.
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When I was at Lossie in the late 70's, there was a story going round that 8 Sqn did it in one of their Shacklebombers. Anyone know if this is this true?
The total concept and execution was awe-inspiring, and the gallantry beyond belief.
Once flew from Stansted to Paderborn in a Boeing 737, map reading my way from the Dutch Coast out of the window and mentally transferring myself to a Lanc at low level at night. The next day my son drove my wife and me to the Mohne Dam. As an ex nav I regard those men as the very cream of their profession, and no amount of niggardly "evaluation" of the dams raid will ever take away anything from their achievement in my opinion.
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Seconded, third'ed, whatever.
Total respect and admiration for all those involved. Hopgood should have got a VC too
.
Total respect and admiration for all those involved. Hopgood should have got a VC too
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I think that it must have been the 40th anniversary that the Lanc was banned as I was at EDUO in those days. Not only was the Lanc banned from overflying the dam but it was banned from German airspace terminal. Times have changed and opinions softened but does anyone know if the Lancaster has ever flown over Germany since?
At that time a request was made fm the UK for the dam overflight which was rejected politically so no such request was made for the Reds who coincidently happened to be transiting south to north to EDUO.
At that time a request was made fm the UK for the dam overflight which was rejected politically so no such request was made for the Reds who coincidently happened to be transiting south to north to EDUO.
"9 Squadron did a better job in that respect in Oct 1944."
Something IX has been doing ever since!
Something IX has been doing ever since!
