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The Third Wave
The third and final wave of the five aircraft attack as part of the Dambusters raid set off after midnight. They were used as a reserve force that would be directed to targets where the earlier waves had failed to achieve their objective.
"There was water everywhere – it went up to about 1,000 feet"
Of the five aircraft sent to breach the Sorpe dam on 17 May 1943 during the Dambusters raid, only two reached their target. Despite bomb aimer Johnny Johnson's deadly accuracy, the bomb failed to breach the dam.
"Won't somebody get that bomb out of here?"
Squadron Leader George 'Johnny' Johnson, MBE, DFM, served in the Royal Air Force for 22 years. During a distinguished career that took him all over the world, Johnny was selected to be part of the elite 617 Squadron or 'the Dambusters' as they famously became known.
Tributes paid to brave Dambusters raid airmen
Today marks 75 years since the RAF's now legendary Dambusters set off on their audacious raid to destroy three German dams at the heart of the Nazi war machine.
Press Release
The First Wave
The 19 Lancasters of 617 Squadron that set off on the night of the Dambusters raid on 16 and 17 May 1943 flew in three waves. What was called the first wave actually took off second, but it comprised the main part of the raid, with nine aircraft, including that of the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson.
The Briefing
Most of the aircrew from 617 Squadron on the famous Dambusters raid of 16/17 May 1943 did not know the targets they would be heading for until the day of the raid itself.
Roy Chadwick and the Lancaster bomber
Most people who know anything about the RAF in the Second World War say that "Roy Chadwick's role is greatly under-rated". He's not the household name that Barnes Wallis or Guy Gibson became, yet his contribution to the war effort in general was immense.
617 Squadron takes shape
Wing Commander Guy Gibson faced the immense logistical task of forming a new squadron and getting them trained and operational in just a couple of months before the Dambusters raid.
Barnes Wallis and the idea behind the bouncing bomb
Barnes Wallis came up with the idea for a bouncing bomb that could be used to target strategic dams in 1942. His idea formed the basis of the Dambusters raid that took place in May the following year, causing major damage to two out of the three targets selected.
Wing Commander Guy Gibson
As the 75th anniversary of the Dambusters raid approaches, we chart the life of Wing Commander Guy Gibson who led 617 Squadron on Operation Chastise.
