Hi Reader, welcome back to our weekly coverage of what happened in the skies and on the ground during World War II. This week, we cover one of the RAF's most secretive and daring missions over Germany that disrupted the war effort for several months. Join us as we delve into the history of one of the most pivotal conflicts ever and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Operation Chastise
This week in history, on May 16, 1943, the RAF conducted a special night-time attack on vital German dams in the Ruhr Valley using newly developed “bouncing bombs.” Known as the Dambusters Raid or Operation Chastise, this daring mission involved hand-picked aviators flying modified Avro Lancasters. The operation aimed to disrupt German industry and war production by breaching the Möhne, Eder, and Sorpe dams, causing extensive flooding and destroying factories, power stations, and transport infrastructure in one of Germany's vital regions.
Before joining the war, the British Air Ministry identified the dams in the Ruhr Valley as important strategic targets but did not have the means to strike. At the time, no RAF bombers could deliver the payload or were capable of such precision, and torpedo nets protected German dams. In 1942, Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers-Armstrongs, developed a concept for a bomb specifically designed for targeting dams that would simply skip across the surface of the water until it hit the target, sink, and then explode underwater. In December 1942, testing began for the new bomb codenamed “Upkeep.”
Meanwhile, a new squadron was formed for the raid in late March 1943. Leading the mission was Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who had totaled over 170 bomber and night-fighter missions at just 24 years old, along with other experienced pilots hand-picked for the mission. Equally special was their crew, consisting of volunteers across the British Commonwealth, including the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In total, 133 aviators and 19 modified Avro Lancaster bombers made up the newly formed “Squadron X.” They trained extensively in night flying, navigation, and low-level bombing runs in preparation for the secret mission just weeks away.
Finally, on April 29, 1943, testing for the “bouncing bomb” was complete, and they were delivered to Squadron X on May 13, 1943, just days before the mission. The squadron was divided into three formations: Formation No. 1 was to target Möhne Dam and Eder, Formation No.2 was to target Sorpe, and Formation No. 3 served as a reserve unit for any remaining targets.
At 9:30 PM on May 16, 1943, the first wave of bombers departed from RAF Scampton towards the European mainland, followed by the other two formations. The bomber group traveled north of Europe towards the Netherlands, dropping to dangerously low altitudes to avoid radar detection, and upon entering the coast, began experiencing the first of many troubles that would occur that night. One bomber was badly damaged by enemy flak, and another flew too low to the ocean, losing its bomb, but both bombers safely returned home.
Formation No. 1, led by Guy Gibson, was the first to reach the Möhne Dam just after midnight. Under dense fog and intense enemy flak, the bombers made their run one by one. It took five aircraft to finally breach the dam, costing two bombers. The remaining bombers diverted to Eder Dam and once again faced difficulty. The surrounding area was covered in dense fog and rough terrain, making a simple run challenging. It took eight total runs between three aircraft to finally breach the dam, losing one bomber.
Formation No. 2 faced even more challenges. The Sorpe Dam was greater in size and built into the earth compared to the first two concrete and steel dams, and the approach followed the length of the dam, facing a hill immediately at the end. Only two bombers were able to reach the dam due to various issues. It took ten separate runs before finally delivering the bouncing bomb but with no success. Three bombers from Formation No. 3 were directed to Sorpe Dam, but only one reached the dam. Due to severe fog, the lone aircraft was forced to take several runs before dropping incendiary bombs to lift the fog enough to improve visibility. After eight runs, the dam was struck but failed to collapse.
All bomber groups made the difficult journey back home, and two more aircraft were lost. At approximately 3:11 AM, the first Avro Lancasters began landing back at RAF Scampton. In total, 11 out of the 19 aircraft returned home. Out of the 133 aircrew, 53 perished during the mission, a casualty rate of nearly 40%. Despite the staggering losses, the mission was successful in achieving its goal of destroying vital dams in the German Ruhr region. Over 1,600 people were killed in the ensuing floods, and the dams would not return to operation until the end of 1943.
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Thank you for tuning in to this week's coverage of what happened on the ground and the skies during World War II. We hope to see you again next week for even more incredible true stories. And as always, see you in the skies.
-TJ
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"'The aggressive spirit, the offensive, is the chief thing everywhere in war, and the air is no exception." - Manfred von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron'
