Dambusters memorial at the International Bomber Command Centre

Today is 80 years since the daring Dambusters raid - with the crew - better known as 617 Squadron, flying from RAF Scampton that night.

The operation - Chastise - involved 133 aircrew flying 19 specially adapted Lancaster bombers, which carried a unique 'bouncing bomb' that they used to attack three dams in Germany's industrial heartland, the Ruhr Valley.

617 Squadron, were specially assembled in March 1943 and were officially formed by Guy Gibson on the Lincolnshire air base.

Men were picked from across the country to be a part of the raid, in total there were 133 aircrew, with three men captured, and 53 killed that day, and eight out of the 19 Lancaster bombers never made it back.

To commemorate the day, a new art installation has been produced, with members of the IBCC volunteers, along with a team from Standing with Giants installing it.

Following the huge success of the Standing with Giants installation that was shown at the IBCC from October 22 to March 23, they were pleased to learn that artist Dan Barton had agreed to create a new piece.

The figures installed at the centre for the next few months represent the 53 men lost during the raid, alongside Wg Cdr Guy Gibson and Dr Barnes Wallis, and were first installed just prior to the 80th anniversary of the raid - today.

Nicky Van Der Drift is the Chief Executive of the International Bomber Command Centre, and tells us why it's of significance:

"It's huge, I mean, it was one of so many really dangerous Ops, but of course because it was put into film and because it involved all that, you know, super low flying, it really is iconic for us.

"It's a really good opportunity to anchor the crew, amongst the 58,000 men that gave their lives. So it's a really good way of just highlighting what Bomber Command did.

"All of those crews took off from Scampton, and you know, it's partly why the heritage at Scampton is so important. So, it's a Lincolnshire story in as much as they were all stationed here, and they did some of their practice runs here."

She tells us more about the events they've been holding:

"So, we had our big inspired dams at 80 event and I'm delighted to say we were also able to commemorate the wonderful George Johnny Johnson, who was such a big supporter here, and his daughter was up for the day, which was marvellous and and so we had a memorial service.

"We also unveiled our men of the dams art installation, and then we've got our concert, and dinner event and the last ever wreath for RAF Scampton will be laid here by Officer Commanding Scampton, Group Captain Neil Atkins as part of all of that.

"Finally, I'm delighted to say that we will be welcoming - weather dependent - the Battle of Britain Memorial flight of the Lancaster, as part of that."

The front row of the installation are silhouettes that represent the crew of ED877 ‘AJ-A’.

AJ-A was the fourth aircraft to drop its Upkeep mine - better known as the bouncing bomb -at the Mohne Dam in the early hours of 17 May 1943, and had caused a small breach in the dam wall.

A few minutes later AJ-J dropped another mine, causing the final breach and the dam’s collapse. Young had flown on to the Eder Dam in order to take over command if anything should happen to Guy Gibson on the attack there, but in the event had nothing to do. He then set course to return home and reached the Dutch coast just before three in the morning.

Then, out over the sea, disaster struck when the gun battery at Wijk-aan-Zee fired at the rapidly disappearing Lancaster. At that stage, the aircraft was well past the last gun battery and only a few hundred yards from safety. But the aircraft was hit and crashed in the sea 2 km south of the Dutch coastal town of Castricum-aan-Zee.

Over the next few weeks, the sea yielded up the crew of AJ-A. Part of the wreckage was washed ashore and the first bodies – those of Melvin Young and David Horsfall – were found on 29 May. They were buried in the General Cemetery at Bergen two days later and were joined by the bodies of the other five crew members which were washed up over the next thirteen days.

The crew of AJ-A were:

SQUADRON LEADER HENRY MELVIN ‘DINGHY’ YOUNG – Pilot (Captain)

Born 1915 – Belgravia, London. American mother, so spent childhood between England and US. Went to school in Connecticut and then University at Trinity College, Oxford where he joined the University Air Squadron alongside Leonard Cheshire. Joined up in 1938.

FLIGHT SERGEANT CHARLES WALPOLE ROBERTS - Navigator

Born 1921 near Cromer, Norfolk to Charles Augustus and Dorcus Roberts. Enrolled 1940 and trained in Rhodesia. Engaged to Irene Mountney (WAAF) working a parachute packer at RAF Scampton.

SERGEANT DAVID TAYLOR HORSFALL – Flight Engineer

Born April 1920 at Bramley, Yorkshire to Robinson and Emma. He has a younger brother, Albert, who was killed in 1940 with 50 Squadron. Trained at RAF Halton.

SERGEANT WILFRED IBBOTSON – Air Gunner

Born September 1913 to Herbert and Anne Ibbotson. Married Doris Bray in 1938 and had two daughters.

FLYING OFFICER VINCENT SANFORD MACCAUSLAND – Bomb Aimer

Born 1913 Prince Edward Island, Canada to Burns and Edith MacCausland as the eldest of 5 children. Worked as a teacher before he joined the RCAF in 1940. Girlfriend Rene Warman had daughter Angela born January 1943 who later married his brother, Howatt.

SERGEANT LAWRENCE WILLIAM NICHOLS – Wireless Operator

Born 17 May 1910 – died on his 33rd birthday – to Edward and Florence Nichols. The eldest of 4 children. Married Georgina 1933 and had two children.

SERGEANT GORDON ARTHUR YEO – Air Gunner

Born September 1922 Barry Dock, Glamorgan to Arthur and Ada. Was youngest member of the crew aged just 20 years. Was a drapers’ apprentice before joining up in 1941.

The plan at present is that the silhouettes will remain at the IBCC for the next few months, before they potentially go on tour to other sites.

{{news}}