When did 617 Squadron disband?

28 March 2014
It is commonly known as the “Dambusters”, for its actions during Operation Chastise against German dams during the Second World War. In the early 21st century it operated the Panavia Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role until being disbanded on 28 March 2014.

How many died in the Dam Busters?

1,300 people
Of the 133 aircrew that took part, 53 men were killed and three became prisoners of war. On the ground, almost 1,300 people were killed in the resulting flooding. Although the impact on industrial production was limited, the raid gave a significant morale boost to the people of Britain.

Which RAF base did the Dambusters fly 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.

Who were the Dambusters crew?

Lancaster bomber crews on the dams raid consisted of seven members: pilot, flight engineer, bomb aimer, rear gunner, front gunner, navigator and the wireless operator. Each of the Dambusters aircraft had its own call sign starting AJ. Guy Gibson’s plane, for example, was “AJ-G for George”.

What happened to Guy Gibsons Lancaster?

Wing Cdr Gibson commanded 617 Squadron, a force of Lancaster bombers specially formed at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire to attack dams in Germany’s Ruhr Valley. The 26-year-old was killed when his Mosquito plane crashed on its way back from another mission in Germany the following year.

Who survived the Dambusters raid?

The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 2013 was dedicated to the Dambusters, marking the 70th anniversary of the Second World War raid, and the last surviving crew member, Johnny Johnson was in Shoreham to witness it.

Was the Dambusters raid worth it?

Britain’s bomber supremo, Sir Arthur Harris, who had opposed the raid as harebrained all along, with some justification, wrote later: “I have seen nothing… to show that the effort was worthwhile except as a spectacular operation.” Senior Nazis downplayed the damage after the war.

How many Germans died after Dambusters?

Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians – about 600 Germans and 1,000 forced labourers, mainly Soviet – died….Operation Chastise.

How many crews survived the Dambusters raid?

Three crew members successfully abandoned the aircraft, but only two survived. Subsequently, Gibson flew his aircraft across the dam to draw the flak away from Martin’s run. Martin (P for Popsie) bombed third; his aircraft was damaged, but made a successful attack.

Did Gibson survive Dambusters?

Wing Cdr Gibson, who led the famous bouncing bomb raids on German dams during World War II, died in a mysterious plane crash in 1944. The 26-year-old was killed when his Mosquito plane crashed on its way back from another mission in Germany the following year. No official reason was ever given for the fatal crash.

Are any of the Dambusters crew still alive?

Squadron Leader George Leonard “Johnny” Johnson, MBE, DFM (born 25 November 1921) is a retired Royal Air Force officer who is the last surviving original member of No. 617 Squadron RAF and of Operation Chastise, the “Dambusters” raid of 1943.

Who are the crew members of the Dambusters?

AJ-N crew members Leslie Knight, Pilot Raymond Grayston, Flight Engineer Harold Hobday, Navigator Robert Kellow, Wireless Operator Edward Johnson, Bomb Aimer Frederick Sutherland, Front Gunner Harry O’Brien, Rear Gunner

Who was the Dambusters leader in the RAF?

Flight Lieutenant Redgrave served in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2009. Also in attendance was his father, Squadron Leader (Ret’d) Marc Redgrave, who served at RAF St Mawgan from 1987 to 1993 on Nimrods, and who still lives in the town with his wife Lynn. Flight Lieutenant Redgrave said:

When did the Dambusters raid in World War 2?

A daring World War II night time raid on three dams in the early hours of 17 May 1943 immortalised the RAF’s 617 Squadron as the “Dambusters”.

What does the † mean on the Dambusters Award?

The awards are those given specifically for the raid. The † indicates killed on Operation “Chastise”; * denotes prisoners of war TO BE UPDATED !!!