65 years ago tonight, the RAF's 617 squadron set off to target three dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley near Dortmund.
Nineteen Lancaster bombers departed in three waves from R.A.F Scampton on the night of 16th May 1943. Nine were to attack the Möhne Dam, then proceed to the Eder; five were to attack the Sorpe; and five constituted a 'flying reserve'.
In the early hours on 17 May, the bombers managed to breach the Möhne and the Eder. The Sorpe was attacked by Lancasters from the reserve force but, though hit, it was not breached. Severe flooding occurred where the Möhne and Eder were breached. The raid proved to be costly in lives as almost 1,300 people died in the floods following the dam bombing (more than half the lives lost belonged to allied POWs and forced-labourers).
The British casualties for the raid were high. Of the nineteen Lancasters that took part in the raids, eight were damaged or shot down, and of the 133 aircrew, 53 were killed and three captured.
