The 617 Sqdn left from Scampton at 1943-05-17 at 21:59
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type III, serial ED937, code AJ-Z).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 58: 159 B-17's are dispatched to hit the port area and U-boat base at Lorient, France; 118 bomb the target at 1213-1217 hours local; we claim 47-8-29 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 6 B- 17's, another is damaged beyond repair and 27 others are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 8 WIA and 57 MIA. An additional 39 B-17's are dispatched to hit the docks and sub pens at Bordeaux, France; 34 bomb at 1238-1244 hours local; we claim 0-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 1 B-17 and another is damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 11 MIA. In a third mission 11 B-26's of the 322d Bombardment Group (Medium) are dispatched on a low-level mission to bomb power stations at Haarlem and Ijmuiden, The Netherlands; 1 B-26 aborts, the other 10 are all shot down before they reach the target; casualties are 58 MIA. This mission prompts the Eighth Air Force to abandon low-level medium bomber attacks.
Campaign report of the RAF:
16/17 May 1943
Operation Chastise - The 'Dambusters' Raid
One of the most daring raids of the war was undertaken by newly-formed No 617 Squadron. Under the inspired leadership of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, the squadron attempted to breach a number of dams in Germany in an attempt to severly disrupt German industrial output. Of the four attacked, two, the Möhne and Eder were breached. The cost to the squadron was enormous. Nineteen aircraft were scheduled for the attacks, but only 12 made it and a further four more were lost on the return journey. 53 crew members were killed with a further 3 taken prisoner.
For his leadership, Gibson, who later went on to become one of the most famous of all Bomber Command pilots, received the Victoria Cross. Another 34 decorations were made to other members of the squadron.
A full description of Operation Chastise will be added to the Bomber Command site in the near future
9 Mosquitos to Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Münster, 54 aircraft minelaying off Biscay ports and in the Frisians, 4 OTU sorties. 1 Wellington minelayer lost.
17 May 1943
13 Venturas bombed Caen airfield without loss.
17/18 May 1943
3 Mosquitos to Munich, 6 aircraft minelaying off La Pallice. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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