Thread by @RAFLossiemouth

#OnThisDay in 1943, 617 Squadron departed @RAFScampton on Operation Chastise - an audacious bombing raid that is still talked about to this day.

Here's your Saturday #MegaThread to explain it all 👇

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Before we begin, Operation Chastise in numbers:

🕰️ Departed @RAFScampton @ 21:28, 16 May 1943
⚡ Primary targets: 3 dams in the Ruhr valley
✈️ 19 Avro Lancaster bombers
👨 133 airmen from 🇬🇧 Britain, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇺🇸 United States

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The plan was to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley.

The Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams were valuable sources of hydroelectric power in the German heartland, and it was thought that their destruction would cause significant disruption to war production.

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The Lancaster bombers were equipped with the "Bouncing Bomb", an invention by Barnes Wallace.

These bombs were designed to skip over the water's surface like a skimmed stone, then sink and explode.

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On 16 May 1943, 19 Lancasters departed from @RAFScampton.

When they reached their first target, Wg Cdr Guy Gibson led the first attack run at the Möhne Dam. It took five runs to breach the dam.

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Next was the Eder Dam, breached on the fourth run. The Sorpe Dam was only dealt minor damage.

The operation caused disruption to the German war effort, and has its place in history as one of the most well known raids of WWII.

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Sadly many of the aircrew involved did not return home.

⚰️ 53 airmen lost their lives
🔒 3 airmen captured as Prisoners of War
✈️ 8 Lancaster bombers lost

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Fast forward many years later, and 617 Squadron were based at RAF Lossiemouth.

They flew the Panavia Tornado from 1994 in an anti-shipping role.

With the draw-down of the Tornado, the Squadron disbanded in 2014.

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617 Squadron re-formed at @RAF_Marham in 2018, and now flies @thef35 - specifically the F-35B.

Earlier in April, Cdr Sparrow became @OC617Sqn - the first @RoyalNavy officer to take Command of 617 Squadron.

More about 617 Squadron 👇
bit.ly/raf-617

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Want to know more about Operation Chastise, or 617 Squadron while it was part of #TeamLossie?

Find out more about the Dambusters Raid 👇
bit.ly/imw-dambusters

Ask your questions by adding to the thread.

👇👇👇👇👇👇

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