RIP Les Munro

I only just watched the film of the raid, actually - such bravery and calm professionalism in terrible circumstances amazes me. I count myself lucky we live in peacetime.

A few months ago I watched the auction of one of the aiming devices they made specifically for the raid. It was a simple, Y-shaped wooden thing with a pair of dowels on the top. The bomb aimer pointed it at the dam and when the dowels aligned with the flak towers on the dam wall they released the bouncing bomb. It was a very slow, respectful and deliberate auction and I think the device went for something like £40,000!

 
Watched a documentary on BBC2 of a modern attempt to make a bouncing bomb and use it against a small purpose built dam. Was very interesting.

Sounds quite the chap, Les. Good work.

(when you consider how much resource the Germans had to put in to rebuilding those dams, whilst fighting on multiple fronts, I would question the "little effect" view. Plus the huge propaganda boost)
 
Leaning out of the cockpit of his Lancaster:

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RIP
 
RIP :(

I do talk to the GF about the old vets of WW2 doing documentaries and sharing their stories and one day there will be non of these guys left :(.
 
RIP :(

I do talk to the GF about the old vets of WW2 doing documentaries and sharing their stories and one day there will be non of these guys left :(.

It won't be that long. The youngest men who would have seen action in the last days of WW2 are now 88 years old. Assuming they were just 18 in 1945.

My step father flew Mosquitos for the RCAF towards the end of the war. Mainly reconnaissance missions but some ground attack. I'm proud to have known him.
 
The last surviving pilot of 617 squadron who took part in the dambusters raid has died.

The bravery of these men should never be forgotten, even if what they did had little effect on the outcome of the war.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33769486

Blue Skies, Sqn Ldr Munro. To go on such a raid must've taken bravery and courage seldom seen in the modern world. It's a scandal that many Bomber Command crew were branded with Lack of Moral Fibre (LMF) once they finally broke down with what we now know as PTSD and couldn't face going on 'ops' any more.

The raid may not have had any significant immediate military effect on the war, but less materially and longer-term its' effects were profound:

1. It demonstrated to our Allies (USA and USSR), that we were capable of mounting major operations on our own
2. It pioneered forming squadrons and units for special missions. 617 Squadron is now a household name because of this raid, and those on the Tirpitz etc.
3. At a time when Bomber Command had been hammered by the Butt Report for only 1 in 5 bombs landing within MILES of the target, it was a demonstration of precision bombing
4. It was a great morale boost to the country, at a time when the war was going pretty badly for the Allies, in Asia and North Africa and no inroads into Europe
5. The Germans were forced to divert men and material from war production to repairing the dam and making good the damage in the Ruhr valley, with a detrimental effect on output.

I'm grateful that we had many such brave men as Les on our side in WW2.
 
Watched a documentary on BBC2 of a modern attempt to make a bouncing bomb and use it against a small purpose built dam. Was very interesting.

Sounds quite the chap, Les. Good work.

(when you consider how much resource the Germans had to put in to rebuilding those dams, whilst fighting on multiple fronts, I would question the "little effect" view. Plus the huge propaganda boost)

Yeah I watched that a while back, I think Les featured in that.

:(sad news, true hero, rest in peace.
 
If you ever get a chance, go and visit the dams. I've been to the Eder, Möhne and Sorpe dams and it really puts in to perspective the precision flying that was required. Especially the Eder where they had to make a very tight turn before lining up with the dam.

The Sorpe is an odd one by the way. They didn't bounce the bomb but rather dropped it directly on to the top of the dam. You can see why if you ever go there because it's not like the other dams. It's more like an earth bank.
 
One of my childhood heroes. Very sad to hear of his passing, but so thankful for what he and all his brethren in Bomber command did for us.
 
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