Their Heros

Two boys wave off an oddly modified Lancaster Bomber while a young WAAF officer looks on...

16 May 1943: RAF Bomber Command launches the final stage of Operation Chastise. Nineteen specially modified Lancaster heavy bombers of 617Sqn take off from their airfield in England, there target for the night: the Hydroelectic dams of the Rhur Valley. It would become possibly the most celebrated single raid of the entire war. The Dambusters.

The "Dambusters' Bomb", or "Bouncing Bomb" as it became known, was the brainchild of one Barnes Wallace. In order to carry the weight, the Lancasters had to have the upper defensive turret removed and the bomb-bay modified. The bomb itself was a large cylinder, like a giant depthcharger. The bomber crews had to manuver into the valleys above the dam walls, flying just 60feet above the water, less than the bomber's own wingspan. When on target the bomb was spun by a desiel engine, this was required for the bomb to "skip" across the water. However, this also produced a gyroscopic effect, effectively locking the bomber on target so it couldn't manuver. The bomb also had to be dropped a specific distance from the dam wall. The crews devised a simple aiming device, consisting of a triangle of wood with a dowel knocked in each corner. The center of the dam wall was lined up along the centre dowel. When the two outer dowels lined up with the AAA turrets on the dam wall, the bomb could be dropped. The bomber crews then had to climb as fast as possible so as not to hit the dam wall or the sides of the valley. The bomb continued on, bounceing across the water's surface, in the same way that a skipping stone does. It then hit the wall and sunk, the rotation put on it earlier holding it against the dam wall. At a pre-described depth, the bomb exploded, hopefully breaking the dam wall.

In the end Operation Chastise was a sucess. The Mohne and Eder dams were breached, with the loss of eight planes and 56 men. Sorpe dam was hit, but held. The raid was also one of the most highly decorated, including a Victoria Cross to the raid's leader WGCDR Guy Gibson for bringing his Lanc back in to give covering fire to others making the run. Other decorations included: 5-DSO's, 2-CGM's, 5-Bar DFC, 10-DFC's, 1-Bar DFM, 11-DFM. As a side note, the aircraft pictured "M for Mother" never returned from the raid. It took heavy fire over the dams and crashed soom afterwards.

Here endeth the history lesson.

Yes, I really like this drawing. Yes, there are quite a few errors on the Bomber, just the positioning of some things, sweep on the tailwings etc. The airfield and hills could use some work as well. Still, one of my favorites.

Oh, WGCDR stands for Wing Commander and WAAF is Womens' Auxillary Air Force.

Have fun

Wraith 11

P.S. Again, thanks to ~EnigmaticSpirit for use of his scanner.