The True Story of The Dambusters

Directed by Jonathan Martin

Rather than plummeting thousands of feet to their targets, the Dambuster Bombs were dropped from extremely low altitudes over water, and instead of submerging they would bounce across the surface like a skipping stone before striking their targets - German Ruhr River dams that were critical to the Nazi war industry. This programme relives the daring mission flown by the men of the 617 squadron who set off on the night of May 16,1943. Of the 19 Lancaster Bombers that departed, 8 never returned, victims of the heavy flak fire, near-total darkness and the requirement that their payload be released at the near-suicidal height of 60 feet. But, as archival footage shows, the attack was a success.