Also on this day in 1943
1943 Operation Chastise: No. 617 Squadron RAF begins the famous Dambusters Raid, bombing the Möhne and Eder dams in the Ruhr valley with bouncing bombs,
With the risk of boring (What ! no not you Joe
. Impossible ! ) [thanks guys, much appreciated] I've just finished reading a book about the adventures of 617 Squadron. It's titled "return of the dambusters" by John Nichol who was a fighter pilot during the golf war. He was actually flying a tornado and managed to get himself shot down. Silly c*nt.
It is a really good read. 617 squadron was created for the task of destroying 3 dams which produced hydroelectricity to supply Germany's arms manufacturing plants.
To cut a long story Barnes Wallis who was an engineer, first of all in the Navy than the RAF, was working on how to damage Germany's power supplies to create steel even before Adolf declared all out war. His main function however,was to design planes.
When in 1942 it became vital to blow up the dams Barnes Wallis came up with the solution. There was no point in trying to use the classic bombing technique of dropping a few bombs from the air and then home for a quick cup of tea in the officers mess lounging around by the cozy fire. Because with them being dams, they were surrounded by hills and LOTS of flak.
No point in trying to torpedo them either because the Germans had put in two rows of anti torpedo nets.
So Barnes Wallis suggested that they use a bouncing bomb. Which if it had not happened would sound ridiculous even today. However, in order for the bombs to be effective they could not just hit the top of the dam and expect it to bust, They had to somehow make it sink and it with it being bouncy they had to find a way for it stick to the wall of the dam.
Our man Barnes came up with the solution, you had to put a back spin on it. A bit like table tennis ball that you've served with a back slice, if it does not clear the net, not only does the other guy get a point, but the ball goes to the net.
The bomb was code named "up keep". They managed to blow two of the dams but the third one was only damaged.
In order to reach the dams they pilots had to fly from England under the radar. This became 617's specialty, hence earning it the nickname of the suicide squadron.Our main man Barnes then went on to develop another type of bomb called tall boy, which was later used to penetrate the think skinned Tirpitz and after three attempts eventually sink it.
Barnes Wallis wasn't satisfied with tall boy, he went on to create another bomb called Grand Slam which like it's predecessor was designed to pierce reinforced concrete and explode underground. As the name suggests it was a lot bigger and caused an earth quack type of reaction.
1943 Operation Chastise: No. 617 Squadron RAF begins the famous Dambusters Raid, bombing the Möhne and Eder dams in the Ruhr valley with bouncing bombs,
With the risk of boring (What ! no not you Joe
. Impossible ! ) [thanks guys, much appreciated] I've just finished reading a book about the adventures of 617 Squadron. It's titled "return of the dambusters" by John Nichol who was a fighter pilot during the golf war. He was actually flying a tornado and managed to get himself shot down. Silly c*nt.It is a really good read. 617 squadron was created for the task of destroying 3 dams which produced hydroelectricity to supply Germany's arms manufacturing plants.
To cut a long story Barnes Wallis who was an engineer, first of all in the Navy than the RAF, was working on how to damage Germany's power supplies to create steel even before Adolf declared all out war. His main function however,was to design planes.
When in 1942 it became vital to blow up the dams Barnes Wallis came up with the solution. There was no point in trying to use the classic bombing technique of dropping a few bombs from the air and then home for a quick cup of tea in the officers mess lounging around by the cozy fire. Because with them being dams, they were surrounded by hills and LOTS of flak.
No point in trying to torpedo them either because the Germans had put in two rows of anti torpedo nets.
So Barnes Wallis suggested that they use a bouncing bomb. Which if it had not happened would sound ridiculous even today. However, in order for the bombs to be effective they could not just hit the top of the dam and expect it to bust, They had to somehow make it sink and it with it being bouncy they had to find a way for it stick to the wall of the dam.
Our man Barnes came up with the solution, you had to put a back spin on it. A bit like table tennis ball that you've served with a back slice, if it does not clear the net, not only does the other guy get a point, but the ball goes to the net.
The bomb was code named "up keep". They managed to blow two of the dams but the third one was only damaged.
In order to reach the dams they pilots had to fly from England under the radar. This became 617's specialty, hence earning it the nickname of the suicide squadron.Our main man Barnes then went on to develop another type of bomb called tall boy, which was later used to penetrate the think skinned Tirpitz and after three attempts eventually sink it.
Barnes Wallis wasn't satisfied with tall boy, he went on to create another bomb called Grand Slam which like it's predecessor was designed to pierce reinforced concrete and explode underground. As the name suggests it was a lot bigger and caused an earth quack type of reaction.
my section commander in kolwezi. Both fine officers. Cheers mate.
! Anyway what I said is enough and we’ll leave it at that. I would like to pay my respects to the Anciens of my company who have passed away since. Adjudant-chef Carlos Dos Santos, adjudant-chef Tintchenko (both sergeants when I knew them), caporal-chef Fourquet (many thanks Le Petit Caporal), caporal Garel, and last – but not least – adjudant-chef Jacques Hosteins. He was in many ways my mentor, a hard tough man. When I committed une “banane” he gave me a choice between a report to the capitaine or the old Legion way! My God he could punch! Later when I started climbing the ranks he had a hand in my promotion to caporal and caporal-chef and was disappointed when I turned down the sergeant school. I explained to him one quiet night in the company club that I’d done enough. After five years with the Brit paras and six years with the Legion, I wanted to try and make a go of it in civvy street. There was a silence. He said he understood. Just before I left the regiment for the last time the adjudant-chef came up to me and shook my hand there was a respect and sadness between us. I shall never forget him and all the others I served with.
