The Dam Buster Raid: A Reappraisal, 70 Years On

242 Pages·2013·8 MB·English

by  Alan W. Cooper

First Published in Great Britain in 2013 by
Pen & Sword Aviation
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS
Copyright © Alan W. Cooper, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-78159-474-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-47382-921-3
EPUB ISBN: 978-1-47382-835-3
PRC ISBN: 978-1-47382-878-0
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Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1 The Dams
Chapter 2 The Target – Upkeep
Chapter 3 The Preparation
Chapter 4 X/617 Squadron is formed
Chapter 5 Training
Chapter 6 The Briefing
Chapter 7 Target One – The Mohne
Chapter 8 Target Nos 2 and 3 – The Eder and The Sorpe
Chapter 9 The Results
Chapter 10 Failed to Return
Chapter 11 Post Dams
Chapter 12 Post-War
Chapter 13 Was it a Success?
Chapter 14 One Day with Bomber Command
Appendix 1 Aircraft Used On The Dams Operation
Appendix 2 Awards for the Dams Operation
Dedication
This book is not to decide if the dams raid was a great success or not, but to make sure all 133 men, and
particular the fifty-three who died, are always remembered for their bravery and the great sacrifice they
made to make sure that we stayed free; and not under the threat of a regime that had not been seen
previously, or we hope never is seen again.
Acknowledgements
My grateful thanks to: David Worrow; Paul Morley; Dave Birrell; Mike Evans; Yasmin Ellis; Mrs Trixie
Heveron; Charles Foster; Hartley Garshowitz; Dominic Howard; Darryl Nugent; Dr Albert Speer.
Ken Patterson for his great help in making sure with an expert eye that the book was kept on the straight
and level.
Publications:
Dambuster Crash Sites – Chris Ward & Andreas Wachtel The Men Who Breached The Dams – Alan
Cooper.
And my wife Hilda for continued support and help whenever it was asked for.
Introduction
Seventy years ago, in May 1943, an operation was carried out by the RAF which has now become one of
the most memorable actions of the Second World War. It was carried out as just another way of
contributing to the end of the war in Europe.
The raid on the Ruhr dams in Germany was this operation. It was the beginning of Bomber Command
becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Why? It was carried out at a crucial point in the air war, during the air battle of the Ruhr. It showed that
targets in the heart of Germany would be hit and were not impregnable. It was an Airborne Commando raid
carried out by 133 men, was it a success?
With the heavy casualties involved, there are some who would say No! Three dams were attacked, two
were breached. But it has to be pointed out that Barnes Wallis said his bouncing bomb was not suitable for
use on the third dam – the Sorpe – because of its construction, earth not masonry. He also said that once you
create a weapon and hand it over to the military you do lose control, to some aspect, on its use. We should
also put on record that he was not behind the attack on the Sorpe dam.
However, looking at the other side of the coin, the RAF, because of the element of surprise, would only
get one shot at breaching the dams; this element of surprise was a big factor
C 1
HAPTER
The Dams
What was the reason for the attack on the Ruhr Dams in May 1943?
In October 1937, a list of plans known as the Western Air (WA) Plans was
compiled by the Air Staff, for use in the event of war. One of these plans was
WA5; attacks on German War Industry, including oil supply, in particular to the
Ruhr, Rhineland and Saar.
From an in-depth study of dams, reservoirs and aqueducts as potential pre-war
targets the Ruhr dams were identified as possible targets.
The idea to attack the German dams in the Ruhr was discussed by the Air
Ministry’s Bombing Committee in March 1938. This committee was formed in
the 1930s with the idea of studying and accessing how Great Britain could hit,
damage or destroy, vital German targets and weaken Germany’s ability to wage
war. There were many targets listed, discussed and agreed upon. Many could be
attacked with conventional bombing; others, which were of a more complicated
nature, would need specialized treatment.
On 15 July 1938 the economic and strategic importance of dams was
discussed by the Plans Operations at the Air Ministry.
Attacking the dams situated in South Westphalia was discussed in committee
on 26 July 1938, the objectives were clear:
(a) Cut off essential supplies of water for industrial and domestic purposes.
(b) Cause flooding and damage to industrial plants, railways, waterways,
etc. in the river valley.
(c) And/or to prevent the maintenance of sufficient water for navigation in
the inland waterways system.
To make one ton of steel required 150 tons of water.
The Ruhr dams were:
The Mohne – situated in the Mohne Valley south-east of Dortmund,
whose role was to collect rainfall to prevent winter flooding and to
provide power for electrical generators. Of utmost importance was the
part it played in sustaining the underground water supply vital for
industrial and household supplies.
The Eder – situated south of Kassel and south-east of the Mohne. It
was built to act as a reservoir for the important Mittelland Canal that
runs from the Ruhr to Berlin. It also prevented flooding of farmland in
winter and finally served hydroelectrical power stations.
The Sorpe, Ennepe and Lister dams – situated south of Dortmund and
south-west of the Mohne. The roles of these dams were similar to that
of the Mohne.
In total there were seven dams in South Westphalia, but the Mohne, Eder, Sorpe
and Ennepe were considered of prime importance. The destruction of the
outstandingly important Mohne Dam, with its massive loss of hydroelectric
power, would have serious repercussions on the production output from the
Ruhr, Germany’s major industrial area.
The Ennepe Dam today. © After the Battle Magazine
It was decided that the best time for an attack on the dams would be after a
period of heavy rain when the reservoirs were full; to breach the dams when low
with water would be more difficult than if they were full. If the Mohne dam was
breached, the 130 million cubic metres of water contained in this dam would