Operation Chastise, known as the Dambusters Raid, was a night bombing attack by the Royal Air Force's No. 617 Squadron against dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley on the night of 16-17 May 1943. Nineteen modified Avro Lancaster bombers, led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, dropped specially designed Barnes Wallis bouncing bombs at extremely low altitude to breach the Möhne and Eder dams. The resulting floods destroyed two hydroelectric power stations and damaged industrial infrastructure across the Ruhr, at a cost of eight aircraft and 53 aircrew lost.
Facts
Operation TypeSpecial-forces bombing raid 1 LocationRuhr Valley, Germany (Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams) 1 ParticipantsNo. 617 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, with RAF, RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF aircrew 1 ObjectiveDestroy German dams supplying hydroelectric power and water to the Ruhr industrial region to disrupt arms production 1 OutcomeThe Möhne and Eder dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding and destroying two hydroelectric power stations; eight of 19 aircraft were lost with 53 aircrew killed 1 Operation Type
Operation Type (category)Special-Forces Operation 1 Connections
Commanders and Forces
Operation Chastise was flown by RAF 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force using Barnes Wallis bouncing bombs
Source Wikipedia: Operation Chastise
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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Operation Chastise
WikipediaLead section
The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage.
- In Category: Military Operations
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