No 617 Squadron of 5 Group RAF Bomber Command was the most famous RAF Squadron in World War II. It was formed to carry out the precision low-level attack, using Barnes Wallace's newly developed rotating mine, now commonly referred to as 'The Bouncing Bomb'. The raid was a tremendous success, although at great cost to the squadron. Guy Gibson VC was tasked with organising the formation and training of the new squadron and the 'Dambusters' have been national heroes ever since. The book pays particular attention to timings of the Dams raid, as it is easy to overlook the fact, that this was a complex three-phase operation, spanning 8 hours and 47 minutes, with action occurring simultaneously at widely dispersed locations. It also covers the circumstances of the losses, by examining the testimony of eyewitnesses on both sides, and presenting arguments to help readers decide for themselves what actually happened.
- ISBN10 1844154696
- ISBN13 9781844154692
- Publish Date 30 April 2008
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 21 July 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Pen & Sword Books Ltd
- Imprint Pen & Sword Aviation
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 320
- Language English