Victims Of Dambusters Raid Remembered

Relatives, service personnel and civilians have gathered at the site of one of the Dambusters raids to remember victims of the attack.   

The Dambusters raid of May 1943 was one of the most daring operations of the Second World War. The RAF’s best bomber crews, armed with the ingenious bouncing bomb, devised by engineer and inventor Barnes Wallis, breached the seemingly impregnable Möhne and Eder dams in the heart of Germany.

Franz Bittis was teenager on the night of the raid and was woken by blasts and anti-aircraft fire. 

“My brother came into the cellar and said the dam’s gone. The place is flooding. We’d better get out of here. That turned out to be very good advice.”

Millions on tons of water from the dams swept through the valleys to destroy or damage roads and bridges. Factories, power stations, and more than 1,000 homes were engulfed. At least 1,650 people were killed. Many of the dead were prisoners-of-war and forced-labourers. 53 RAF aircrew were killed.

Frank Garbas was a gunner on one of the Lancaster bombers taking part in the Dambusters raid. He died in the attack but his nephew Paul Morley was among the relatives representing the Canadians that made up one fifth of the aircrew on the operation. 

"Politicians will make a war but we die in them"

Cyclists hoping to raise £400,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund also took part in the events at the dam. The April Fools charity have spent four days retracing the Dambusters route. Squadron Leader Andy Mewes from 600 Squadron, RAF Northolt reflected on the meaning of the 75th anniversary of the raid.

"Everybody know what happened,but this is not about event itself, its about the aftermath and to commemorate all of those people who lot their lives."