Who was in 617 Squadron?
| No. 617 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Current commander | Commander Mark Sparrow RN |
| Notable commanders | Guy Gibson Leonard Cheshire Willie Tait John Fauquier |
| Insignia |
Is RAF Marham still active?
207 Squadron became the second Lightning squadron to be based at RAF Marham when it reformed on 1 August 2019 as the F-35 Operational Conversion Unit….
| RAF Marham | |
|---|---|
| Built | 1916 |
| In use | 1916–1919; 1937–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | Group Captain Phil Marr |
What did 617 Squadron do?
On the night of 16-17 May 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on an audacious bombing raid to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley, the industrial heartland of Germany. The mission was codenamed Operation ‘Chastise’.
What airfield did the Dambusters take off from?
RAF Scampton
Operation Chastise began on the evening of Sunday 16 May 1943, when the first of 19 Lancaster bombers led by 24-year old Wing Commander Guy Gibson headed to the skies from the grass aerodrome of RAF Scampton, near Lincoln.
How many people are at RAF Marham?
3600 Service Personnel
THE STATION Over 3600 Service Personnel, civil servants and contractors work at RAF Marham.
Can you visit RAF Lossiemouth?
There is no official aircraft viewing area at RAF Lossiemouth. Access to RAF Lossiemouth by the public is prohibited. If you are ‘spotting’ at RAF Lossiemouth, please ensure that you are not trespassing on private land.
How many planes were lost on the Dambusters raid?
8 aircraft
| Operation Chastise | |
|---|---|
| Strength | |
| 19 Lancaster bombers | XII. Fliegerkorps (Defending three dams) |
| Casualties and losses | |
| 8 aircraft shot down 53 aircrew killed 3 aircrew taken prisoner. | 2 dams breached 1 dam lightly damaged c. 1,600 civilians killed (including 1,000+ prisoners and forced labourers, mainly Soviet). |
Was the Dambusters raid worth it?
It was a raid sent to destroy a series of mighty dams, wreaking havoc with the Ruhr’s vital water supplies. Known as Operation Chastise to its planners, it is remembered simply as the Dambusters raid. The results certainly impressed the world at the time – two dams were breached, and a third damaged.