Australia's dambusters : flying into hell with 617 Squadron

Resource Information

The work Australia's dambusters : flying into hell with 617 Squadron represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Randwick City Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Australia's dambusters : flying into hell with 617 Squadron

Title remainder

flying into hell with 617 Squadron

Statement of responsibility

Colin Burgess

Creator

• Burgess, Colin

Author

• Burgess, Colin

Subject

• World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, British
• Australian
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Australian
• Great Britain, Royal Air Force | Squadron, 617 -- History

Language

eng

Summary

It was the evening of 16 May 1943, as 19 modified Lancaster bombers from 617 Squadron RAF, under the command of youthful Wing Commander Guy Gibson, roared into the night sky from their Lincolnshire base. They were on a top-secret Bomber Command mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, now regarded as one of the most dangerous and audacious bombing raids of World War II – an attack on the formidable, well-defended dams of Germany’s Ruhr Valley. Slung beneath the belly of each aircraft was one of the war’s greatest secrets – a bouncing bomb. Against the odds, and flying straight and level into the teeth of terrifying enemy fire, they succeeded in breaching the two principal dams. Many of the 133 airmen involved that fateful night hailed from Australia, and several would be counted among the 56 who would not return to base next morning. The Dams Raid led to the men of this gallant company – often referred to as a suicide squadron – taking on even more hazardous operations in the final two years of the war. Under valorous leadership, and now armed with massive Tallboy and Grand Slam ‘earthquake’ bombs, they obliterated vital Nazi installations, destroying such defiant targets as the heavily-defended Kembs Barrage and the German battleship, Tirpitz, often at a terrible cost in lives

Biography type

contains biographical information

Cataloging source

ANL:PDS

Dewey number

940.5449

Illustrations

• illustrations
• maps
• portraits
• plates

Index

index present

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Target audience

adult