I can't find it, Daddy. I've looked everywhere.
It's alright, don't worry. We'll find it in the morning. I've got another one here.
Ready?
Standby.
Four, three, two, one, fire.
Ah I'm sorry. It's no good. It's over there in that flowerbed somewhere.
- I've lost it, Daddy. I can't find it. - I've got it.
- Here it is, Daddy. - Thank you.
Watch it, Christopher.
Four, three, two, one, fire!
Fine, that's good! Mark it, Mary.
Right, well let's...
Hello, old Doc! I'm sorry. Have you been here long?
No, I've just come. What all this going on?
Oh, it's... just a little thing I'm trying to find out.
Here, can you just hold that for me? Just over the centre of the tub.
Got it?
Right, we'll make a note of this one.
13 foot 3. That's all right now. Thank you very much.
- Hello, Doc. - Hello, darling.
Are you going to look at Elizabeth? I hope it isn't tonsils.
She looks all right. Where's your mother?
- ln the house. - Let's go in, shall we?
- I'll be in in a minute. Stay for some tea.
- Thanks very much.
Well, now listen. Let's try to get one or two more shots before it's too dark.
Thank you.
Watch out, Mary.
Watch it, Christopher.
I don't think there's anything to worry about here.
The temperature is all right.
Quite a lot of these throats are running around this spring.
- She'll be all right in the morning. - Good.
Now, along to bed, darling. I'll bring you up some supper later on.
Oh, but I've got to help Daddy play marbles.
No, it's too late now, dear.
- Good night, Doctor. - Good night, Elizabeth.
All right, let's try one more.
- Good night. - Good night, darling.
Three, two, one, fire!
He seems to be having a fine old game out there.
What's it all about?
Just some problem he's trying to solve before tomorrow afternoon.
He's been at it for days now.
He was out there at 5 o'clock this morning in the rain.
Doctor, when I called you this afternoon it wasn't really about Elizabeth.
- It was Barnes. - You don't think he's well?
He's all right at present, but he won't be for much longer.
He can't be if he goes on like this:
2 and 3 and 4 o'clock night after night.
And after a hard day at his real job at Vickers.
He hardly went to bed at all last night.
He's wearing himself out.
I wish you'd have a talk with him, I think he might listen to you.
I'll see what I can do, but you know how he is.
- How is Elizabeth? - Oh, she's all right.
- You don't think it's tonsils? - No, no, no.
But I'll keep an eye on her, don't you worry.
The tea is stone cold, Barnes. I called you twice.
Oh, I'm sorry. But you know I got a lot of very useful stuff here.
It's only a question now of working it out on paper.
- Another late night? - I don't know, it depends.
In any case, this part is easy compared with what's coming.
- Have a cup of tea, Doc. - Well, if you're going to...
- I'll make some fresh. - Don't worry, I'll do it.
No, no, you sit down and take off those wet shoes.
- Better see to the blackout first. - I'll give you a hand.
Wait a minute.
Come out here and listen.
Hmm, sound like another big one.
Surely they won't be able to stand up to many raids like these.
They wouldn't if we could really get at them, but we don't.
It's like trying to kill a giant by firing at his arms and legs
with thousands of peashooters instead of a clean bullet through the heart.
You know what happened when they tried to wipe out London.
Here's your tea, Barnes. Don't let this get cold.
I'm coming.
Doc, do you remember about that earthquake bomb idea of mine?
Yes, that was the time of Dunkerque.
You told me the idea, but not what you wanted it for.
Come over here.
Do you know how much water it takes the Germans to make a ton of steel?
- Haven't the least idea. - One hundred tons.
Now just look at this.
The whole of this great arsenal of war factories in the Ruhr
depends for its water on three enormous dams:
The Möhne, the Eder and the Sorpe.
They control the level of the canals and supply a lot of hydroelectric power.
When those are full, they hold 400 million tons of water.
Just think of the chaos if we could break those walls down.
Now, this is what I wanted to do.
Drop a 10 ton bomb from 40 thousand feet
that would seal itself in the roots of the wall.
The shockwaves would be tremendous, a real earthquake.
But could you hit a target that size from 8 miles up?
I reckon that a near miss, even 50 feet, would do the job.
Is there an airplane that will carry a 10 ton bomb?
- No, but i was going to design one. - What happened?
Well, a committee was set up and we went into it
but I hadn't made sufficient allowance for the cushioning effect of the water.
We should need a 30 ton bomb - too heavy for any aircraft at present.
- Sugar? - No, thanks.
- Oh, carry on. - Well, just a little.
Do you know, Barnes?
I still don't see why you need such a special bomb.
This dam is about 1 20 feet thick: Solid masonry all through.
We've proved that a bomb 20 times the size of the biggest bomb now
wouldn't even tickle it.
Besides, we can't float anything down the lake
because they've got these two huge booms stretching right across it.
We can't even get it in under the water
because these booms support thick steel nets
which would stop a flotilla of submarines let alone torpedoes.
I see.
You can't bomb it, you can't float a mine against it
and you can't torpedo it.
- Looks impossible. - Yes, it does, doesn't it?
The other day I thought of a new, a wonderful idea.
- You've found a way to do it? - I think so.
The committee that's enquiring into my original idea is meeting again tomorrow
and I rather expect they'll want to wind the whole thing up.
Well, if they do, I'm done.
Why don't you go ahead with your new idea until you're ready
and then get them to form a new committee?
My dear fellow, you talk as if I could pull committees out of a hat.
It took months... well, years almost to get Whitehall to start this one.
Somehow or other I must just keep it alive until I'm ready.
Oh, I'm sorry! You want to get back to your surgery.
Well, I ought to really.
- Barnes? - Hmm?
- Will you promise me something? - If I can...
Would you try to get away for Easter? You do need a rest, you know.
You think I'm going crazy? A lot of people do, you know.
No, but you can't go on day and night. Nobody can.
All right, Doc.
- Hello, Dr Pye. - Hello, Wallis.
- Would you do something for me? - I'll try.
You've got a lot of influence over those fellows in there.
Will you try to stop them winding the thing up right away?
- They'd need a very convincing reason. - I've got a new idea.
It's quite different only... l must have time.
- Can you explain to them what it is? - That's just the point, I can't.
If I were to try explain it to them now they'd only laugh at me.
- It's difficult without knowing more... - Yes, I do see that, but...
We'd better go in.
Surely Mr Wallis must realise the false position he's putting us into.
We were appointed to examine a definite proposition.
I don't think we were confined to any definite proposition.
We were appointed to examine every possibility of air attack on these dams.
I know, but Mr Wallis did put forward a
theory that was hopelessly wide of the mark.
And on the strength of this, he wants time to explore a completely new theory
that's too fantastic even to explain.
I'm only asking for one simple thing: I want you to give me sufficient time.
To discover how much explosive would be needed to breach these dams
if we could explode a bomb directly against the wall.
How do you propose to get the bomb directly against the wall?
That is what I'm working on now.
Yes, but surely you can give us some idea.
I don't think that we can press Mr Wallis to do that.
If I had a partly formed theory, I certainly shouldn't want to talk about it
until I'm sure that it is all clear.
Quite so.
How long would you need to carry out these new experiments?
If Glanville will let me have the model dams at St Harmondsworth again
I would say... a week or ten days.
- How do you feel about that, Glanville? - We'll be of any help we can.
Right. Then I should like to propose that we formally adjourn for two weeks.
Can I take it that the committee agrees to this?
Splendid!
I'm so glad you could come down. I think you'll find this very interesting.
Glanville's people have rigged up two charges.
This first one is equivalent to a 10 ton bomb, 50 feet from the wall,
as in the earlier experiments.
This second one is only half that charge but fixed to the wall itself.
Both are at a depth equivalent to 30 feet.
- Are we all ready, Collins? - All ready, Dr Glanville.
- You want to take cover? - No, I don't think so.
Not for the first one.
If you all stand back over there...
All right, Collins, go ahead!
There. You see? It isn't even scratched?
A very slight shock is recorded and then it returns to normal.
This is where I was wrong before.
The cushion of water between the explosion and the wall
absorbs the shock almost completely. Shall we have the second one?
- When you're ready. - This should get our feet wet.
Watch it.
Fire.
- Good heavens! That's wonderful. - Wonderful.
And that is only half the charge of the first one.
Do you see the difference when it's placed against the wall at the right depth?
The cushion of water acts in our favour sending shockwaves right through the wall.
If we use this as a basis, Glanville and I have calculated
we should one need 6,000 pounds of this new explosive, RD X,
to breach the Möhne dam itself.
I can cut the case weight down
and make a complete bomb of less than 5 tons.
We shouldn't need a specially constructed aircraft either.
The new four engine Lancaster can carry a 5 ton bomb right through to the Ruhr.
- If you can make the bomb... - Naturally.
And get it to explode exactly in the right position, hard against the dam wall.
- despite the protecting torpedo nets? - Of course, that's essential.
But you still don't tell us how.
Well, if you're satisfied with what you've seen
and I can have the proper facilities I think I can do it.
- What facilities do you want? - A testing tank, a really big one.
The biggest I know is the experimental ship tank at Teddington,
- the National Physical Laboratory's. - Could I use one of those?
- I'll see what we can do. - Uh-huh.
- Well, goodbye. - Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
And keep at it. I think you've got something.
Three, two, one...
fire!
1 10, 1 36.
Thank you.
That's no good, it's too short. Try 2 foot 6.
Well gentlemen, when you asked us to let Barnes Wallis use this tank of ours
I didn't expect him to be still here after five months.
I don't think we did either.
We have urgent experiments waiting for this tank.
Any idea how long he's going to be? It's making things very difficult.
He's exploring something entirely new, you can't hurry this kind of research.
I know and if I thought he was getting anywhere...
But he doesn't seem to be doing so. At any rate, he doesn't tell me anything.
He spends hours and hours shooting golf balls up and down.
And every now and then, he breaks a window.
Look, couldn't you find him some quiet duck pond in the country
where he could shoot things up and down without being a nuisance to other people?
We'd better have a word with him. Is he there now?
He's always there. Didn't go home at all last night.
- Why was that? - I don't know, I think he forgot.
He only has lunch about once a week.
All right. Stand by! Once again.
Three, two, one...
fire!
It's OK, I got that all right.
1 5 0 2 0 3.
Splendid! We'll try that again.
Oh, hello. Hello.
You couldn't have come at a better time.
It's extraordinary how these things happen.
One goes on and on feels as if one's up against a brick wall forever
and then suddenly, it's as if a light flashes on and everything slips into place.
And now...
If you come along here...
I've got a camera recording but I think that up by the middle
you'll see everything perfectly.
All right. Er, just about where you are.
Are you all ready?
Once again.
Right.
Three, two, one...
fire!
1 4 0...
We've been trying for months to find a rule
by which we can fix the height of each bounce.
If the bomb is released too soon, it won't reach the dam,
if it's released too late, it'll bounce over it
and explode directly under the aircraft killing everyone.
But now, we've got it! If you just wait here a moment and I'll do that again.
Right.
Three, two, one..
Fire!
You see? It wasn't a fluke, it works.
Well, that seems to be conclusive.
It's extraordinarily good of you to have been so patient.
Not at all, glad we could help.
There were times when you must have thought I was absolutely cockeyed.
- My dear fellow, that's the last thing... - I shouldn't blame you if you did.
There's such a very thin dividing line between inspiration and obsession
that sometimes is very hard to know which side we're on.
- Will you need the tank anymore? - If I could have it
until the end of the week to check my calculations and complete the report.
That's perfectly all right. You'll leave on Saturday?
Oh, yes, definitely.
After what you've seen today, you'll put in a satisfactory report.
Certainly. I think this ought to convince the committee.
Splendid!
After that, it's a matter for the Ministry of Aircraft Production.
Under normal conditions, we should go right ahead and give you every facility.
But I'm afraid at the present moment, it's quite impossible.
But why, after that report?
You know how difficult things are, Mr Wallis.
The shipping losses: half a million tons last month alone,
most of it vital war material.
We haven't got an ounce to spare for anything except the highest priority.
Bit surely, I only want to make a few half size dummy prototypes of my bomb.
A new weapon like this would need highly skilled labour,
special machine tools, factory space.
Our factories are stretched to the last inch of their capacity.
And you know the acute shortage of skilled labour.
But you're making new weapons all the time.
We're always trying to improve upon weapons of known value.
It's a different matter when we come to revolutionary ideas,
I might almost say fantastic ones, like this.
You mustn't think we're unimaginative or lukewarm.
We all see the possibilities and we'd like to go ahead.
But at present, I'm afraid it's out of the question. Possibly next year.
For goodness sake, let's go as far as we can now
even if it doesn't go beyond these half size prototypes.
You could practically make those in a bicycle shop.
Even if we made a few dummy bombs,
you say you need a Wellington bomber for test drops.
They're worth their weight in gold.
Do you really think the authorities would lend you one?
What possible argument could I put forward to get you Wellington?
Well, if you tell them that I designed it, do you think that might help?
Looks a bit choppy down there.
Smooth or choppy, it's all the same with this bomb, Mutt.
- Ready? - Yes.
How is the speed, Mutt?
Set at 180.
Are we all right for height?
We're all right. Bet you half a crown it doesn't work anyhow.
Look!
It's all right, it works!
Oh!
Well, I imagine with the success of the trials,
they'll let me go right ahead with the real thing.
Personally, I'd like to see you go straight ahead,
but the position is more difficult today than it was last month.
How so?
We can't even produce enough of existing types of bombs,
much less begin to work on something
completely new and completely unpredictable.
Surely they must realise if we can burst those dams and flood the Ruhr valley
they can save the thousands of bombs that they're dropping on the factories.
I can only pass on to you the decision of the Ministry, Mr Wallis.
It might help if you could get the support of somebody with personal influence.
Whom do you suggest?
Why not go and see Sir Edward Hughes?
I've seen him twice.
- Or Sir George Burnett? - I've seen him three times.
Well then of course there's Lord Mansell.
I sat outside his office all yesterday morning.
He was too busy.
Oh... Well, why not see Sir Geoffrey Haines?
- I sat outside his office all the afternoon.
- I see.
Well, in that case for the present I think you've done everything you possibly can.
- Have you seen Mr Summers?
- I think you'll find him in the testing shed.
Right.
- How did you get on? - It's hopeless.
- What happened? - Nothing.
I walked up and down Whitehall, in and out of offices,
up and down stairs, sat outside rooms, l...
I felt like a pedlar trying to sell clockwork toys.
I wish there was something I could do.
- There is, Mutt. - What?
Let's take the whole thing straight to Bomber Command.
- Harris? - Yes. You really know him.
If he sees the films and gets interested, well, it'll only need one word from him.
Why not?
There's a bit of a snag there.
You see, he gets so inundated with fantastic inventions...
That's ridiculous! Everything he's using had to be invented.
Look, if you tell him that it's worthwhile he'll listen to you, won't he?
I'll do what I can, but don't blame me if he throws us both out of the window.
Will you come in, please?
Mr Summers and Mr Barnes Wallis, sir.
- Hello, Mutt. Wallis. - Good morning.
What is it you want?
I've got an idea for destroying the Ruhr dams.
The effect on Germany would be enormous.
I know all that, I read the report.
But you really think you can knock down a dam with that thing?
Yes.
It looks clever enough on paper, but that goes for all these wizzy ideas.
You try to make them work, they fall down flat.
- This one doesn't. - How do you know?
We've tested it and proved it.
I've got some films here I'd like you to see.
If you've proved the thing, why hasn't it been taken up?
I don't know. But the films only take five minutes to run.
You could see them and decide for yourself.
Well...
all right.
Send the projectionists out of the room.
If this thing is as good as you say, there's no point in letting everybody know.
Thornby can run the film.
- Is that you, Barnes? - Hello.
It's raining a bit, I shouldn't be surprised if it turns to snow.
Yes, it is cold, isn't it? How did you get on?
With Harris? Oh, he was all right.
What's he like? Is he very fierce?
Oh, no. He listened to what I had to say and saw the films.
- Was he interested? - Yes, I think so.
It doesn't make any difference now anyway because the whole thing is over.
Washed out and done with.
That's impossible. What happened?
When I got back to Weybridge, they sent for me and told that the people in Whitehall
had decided that I was making a nuisance of myself
wasting everybody's time, including my own and that the whole thing was dropped.
What did you do?
Well, the only thing I could do: I resigned.
- Resigned? From Vickers? - Mm-hm.
Surely this doesn't affect your other work.
Sweetheart, when you believe in a thing as much as I have believed in this
there really isn't any other work until you have seen it through.
What will you do?
Oh, I haven't thought about that yet.
It's a new experience to find myself unemployed.
The first thing you'll do is to have a rest.
We'll get away somewhere.
No, I don't think so. It wouldn't be much fun in a farm house in winter
or in some dreary wartime hotel.
There's plenty to do here too.
I must see about the tool-house door, see if I can get it to work properly.
I've meaning to repair the chicken run for years.
After that, I can look around for someway of earning a living.
I suppose I can get a job teaching somewhere.
Oh, a secretary rang up just before you got in.
The Ministry of Aircraft Production want to see you in the morning.
I've had enough of the Ministry of Aircraft Production and all the rest of them.
- But they said it was important. - Yes, it is to them.
They'd enjoy giving me a lecture on minding my own business.
Personally, I'd prefer to dig the garden.
If it doesn't snow, I think I'll put in a few broad beans.
- Isn't it a bit too early? - I don't know. They're very hardy.
One year I planted a row in November
and they come up a couple of inches by Christmas.
I think you ought to go, Barnes.
Perhaps you're right.
It would be a good thing if I told them exactly
what I think of the whole bunch of them.
Mr Wallis, sir.
Oh, hello, Wallis. I was trying all over the place to get hold of you yesterday.
- You needn't have troubled.
- What do you mean, I needn't have troubled?
They told me the news at Vickers.
If you've got to tell me officially, well...
I suppose you've got to have your say.
Then I'll have mine.
But they know nothing about it yet.
The news only came through in the afternoon.
And actually I wanted you to be the first to know.
- What did they told you? - That the whole thing was off.
Done with, finished.
I don't know who said that, it didn't come from us.
What I'm telling you now is official.
Orders have just come through from Downing Street that it's to go ahead right away.
The Prime Minister is enthusiastic about it.
The time is the vital element now.
The dams must be attacked early in May when the water level is at its highest.
After that the level begins to drop.
Naturally, I know that. I made it clear in my report.
It only leaves a bare two months to train a squadron and prepare the bombs.
Can you do your part in that time?
Well... I'll do my best.
That's how it is. I expect you all want to get back to your groups.
I want a maximum effort tonight. See if we can get a real knock at Essen.
Right.
Cochrane, don't go for a minute.
What do you think of Wallis' idea of bursting the Ruhr dams?
It sounds a bit far-fetched, but personally I think it can be done.
I hope you're right.
Anyway, I've given it my support and I've had orders to get ready.
- I want you to take it on. - Right, sir, I'd like to.
It'll mean taking a squadron out of the line for special training.
No, we must form a special squadron for this
and man it with experienced crews who've just finished their present 30 trips.
Some of those keen youngsters won't mind doing an extra one.
Have you anyone in mind to command the squadron?
Yes. Gibson.
Rad shutters auto.
- Brakes off. - Brakes off.
Nigger, come on, boy! Come on!
Come on, Nigger!
Come on, old fellow.
You won't have to wait for me for a long time.
No, you won't! Going on holiday, down to Cornwall.
Rabbits. Rabbits, boy!
Come on, Skipper, you'll miss the bus.
OK! Come on, Nigger.
Come on, boy!
There's a show called "Let's Face it!" at the Hippodrome.
- That's the Cole Porter musical. - You've seen it?
Yeah, I saw it last fall. But I'll see it again.
"Full Swing" at the Palace with Jack Halbert.
Can you walk straight in on these shows nowadays or do you have to book?
You can't get into the stalls because of the Americans.
Most nights you can get in somewhere.
There's four of us for London, Skipper.
We can get the 3:15 tomorrow and see a show before we split up.
- All right, you can count me in.
- We'll have a couple of taxis here at 2:30.
Excuse me, sir. There's a message for you from Group.
The A.O.C. would like to see you at 11 o'clock tomorrow.
Oh... right.
You wait there, old boy. Stay there.
Wing Commander Gibson, sir.
- Good morning, Gibson. - Good morning, sir.
Congratulations on the bar to your DSO.
Thank you, sir.
- You finished your third tour last night? - Yes, sir.
Would you be prepared to take on one more trip?
What kind of trip, sir?
I can't tell you much about it for the present
But it'll be a special one and you'll command the operation.
I'm afraid it would mean putting off your leave.
How do you feel about it?
- All right, sir. - Good.
It's going to need careful training
and the Commander-in-Chief wants a special squadron formed.
It will be best if you form it yourself.
I'm telling all the squadrons they'll have to give up their most experienced crews.
They're not going to like it.
- Is Group Captain Whitworth there? - He's just arrived, sir.
- Ask him to come in. - Very good, sir.
What kind of training is it to be, sir? What sort of target?
I can't tell you the target yet.
But it will be low-flying.
You've got to be able to low-fly at night until it's second nature.
- Hello, Whitworth. - Good morning, sir.
- You know each other? - Oh, yes. We're old friends.
- Hello, Gibson. - Hello, sir.
You'll be forming this squadron at Whitworth's main base at Scampton.
I'm sorry I can't tell you any more,
but the immediate job is to get your crews and get them flying.
There's one other thing: You'll have to watch security.
As far as others are concerned, this is just an ordinary new squadron.
Very good, sir.
Now go off with Group Captain Whitworth and he'll help you to get things going.
You'll find pretty well everyone that matters in here, sir.
- On this board or here, in these albums. - Right, thank you.
Now then... Oh, thanks.
I'd go for these Australians if I were you: Les Knight and Mickey Martin.
Martin knows all there is to know about low-flying.
Yes, I met him when he was collecting a DFC.
I know this New Zealander, Les Munro, I'd like to have him.
- And Joe McCarthy, he's great. - Oh, the American. The Glorious Blonde.
He used to be a Coney Island beach guard.
We mustn't forget the English.
Here is Bill Astell.
Oh yes, and David Maltby.
No, he's just started another tour.
And Hoppy Hopgood from my old squadron.
I'd like to have Dave Shannon and Burpee from there too.
We shan't be popular with the other squadron commanders
if we start squeezing chaps like these from them.
There are two I'd like as flight commanders:
Henry Maudslay and Dinghy Young.
- Do you know them? - I know Young well.
I told him to fly in the Oxford University Air Squadron.
He was a rowing blue. Henry Maudslay's a darn good athlete too.
He's a miler, I think. You couldn't have picked two better chaps.
- What about your own crew? - They're off on leave this afternoon.
They've had a hard tour and must be sick of the sight of me by now.
I'll leave them alone.
Come on, Nigger.
Hurry up, Skipper, you'll miss the train.
You fellows go ahead, I shan't be coming.
- Why? What happened? - Nothing much.
- They've given me another job. - A staff job?
- No, forming a new squadron. - What? Not before your leave?
Yeah...
You tell the boys, will you Trevor?
You chaps will have to hurry if you're going to get the 3:15.
You needn't bother about that, Crosby.
- I'm not going. - Not going, sir?
No, but you needn't unpack everything again because we're moving to Scampton.
- You go and get your dinner. - Very good, sir.
What are messing about for? I told you, I'm not going.
Skipper, this new squadron... Are you going to fly with it?
- Of course I'm going to fly with it. - Well, you'll need a crew, won't you?
Of course, but I'll get one all right.
Ooh, you mean you've had enough of us. You want to get rid of us.
I didn't say that.
Well, we've just had a committee meeting.
There's a general opinion that it's not going to be safe
to let you fly about with a lot of new people who don't know how crazy you are.
It's the general opinion that you'll need us to look after you.
Well... if that's what you want to do, all right.
I think you're the crazy ones. The whole bunch of you.
Two more beers, please.
There's eleven DFCs already and three bars.
You can bet your boots it's something big.
They say it's a special squadron to kidnap Hitler.
- Who's that big dark fellow by the table? - That's Young, Gibson's second in command.
Dinghy Young, they call him, because he always comes down in the sea.
And paddles home in his rubber boat.
Oi! Here's Gibson. He's done 1 7 3 sorties already.
Stay there, Nigger. Stay there, boy.
You know most of the chaps, I think.
All right, carry on, please.
- Hello, sir. - Hello, Dinghy.
- McCarthy, sir. - Oh yes, of course. Glad you're with us.
Hello, Maudslay. You two chaps are going to be my flight commanders.
- What's it all about, sir? - You'll find out, sooner or later.
- You've met Mickey Martin, haven't you? - Yes, of course. Hello, Mickey.
I wanted you for this.
You're the low-flying expert. You'll be able to tell us all about it.
Low-flying? Fine.
- Hello, sir. - Hello, Hoppy. Hello, Shannon.
I found Nigger outside. Can I stand him a beer?
Don't give him more than a pint.
Right.
Don't drink it too quickly or you'll get hiccups.
Well, sir... when are we going to get something to fly in?
They're sending the first batch of Lancs tomorrow.
That makes the ten they promised us to get started with.
Have them flown and tested tomorrow.
We can begin this afternoon dividing the crews into flights.
The first job will be to fly over every big
lake in England and Wales and photograph them.
- Lakes? - Lakes.
- The crews are in the briefing room, sir. - All right, I'll come.
Right, you can sit down.
Well... here we are all together for the first time.
You're wondering what it's all about
and I can't tell you because I don't know myself.
But I do know it's a big thing.
And if it comes off, it will have results
that may do quite a bit to shorten this war.
Discipline is going to be essential.
So is security.
It's unusual for a crowd like you to be formed into a new squadron
so you're going to be talked about.
Rumours are flying about already
but you have got to keep your mouths shut!
All here will depend on secrecy.
If we can surprise them, then we'll play hell with them.
But if they're ready for us,
then the hell is going to come from the other side.
Now I understand that the job, whatever it is,
has got to be done at low level.
So the first thing is to practise low-flying
day and night until we can do it with our eyes shut.
Come in.
- Hello, Mutt. - This is Wing Commander Guy Gibson.
Oh, good morning. I'm glad you've come.
- My name is Barnes Wallis. - Morning, sir.
Well, I'll leave you to it. See you later.
- Right. Thanks. - Thanks a lot, Mutt.
Would you like to put those things down? Give me that.
Thank you.
I don't smoke but there's sometimes have a cigarette in here...
- Yes, there we are. - Thank you.
Well, I don't suppose you know very much about all this at present.
I don't know anything about anything yet.
- But you know the target. - No, not the faintest idea.
My dear boy... Well, I thought they would have told you.
This makes it very awkward.
Isn't that what I'm here for, to be told by you?
Oh no, not the target. That's dreadfully secret.
I'm afraid I can't tell anybody whose name isn't on this list.
Still, I'll tell you as much as I dare.
Well you see, there are certain objects in the enemy territory
that are very big and quite vital to this war effort.
They're so big that ordinary bombs won't hurt them.
But I've got an idea for a special type of bomb
only it would have to be dropped at very low level.
Oh, they've told us about low-flying.
Oh, they have? Oh, well that's something.
Well, I don't know if you're scientifically minded...
In any case, it wouldn't be necessary for you or any of your crews
to understand the theory and mathematics of the weapon.
I'd like to try and understand it if I can.
You would? Oh, splendid.
I'll explain it all to you later on paper.
But first of all, I'd like you to see some films.
You can leave your things here, it's only in the next room.
Ready?
Right, this way.
- Er, are you ready? - Yes, sir.
Bring up a couple of chairs.
Right.
Now these are the first dropping tests at Chesil Beach, near Weymouth.
Here comes the Wellington.
Mutt Summers is the pilot and I'm working the release gear.
Now in a moment, you'll see the bomb.
There it goes... Now watch.
Now we switch to one of the big testing tanks at Teddington.
These pictures were taken much earlier, when I was experimenting with miniatures
but they show what the bomb does underwater.
There it goes.
Now that's exactly how a full size bomb would behave.
At 30 feet down, an hydrostatic pistol would automatically explode the charge.
Well, you can see now why this low-flying is so important.
Each aircraft will only be able to carry one bomb
and it must be dropped from exactly 150 feet at a speed of 240 miles an hour.
Above or below that height and speed and it just doesn't work.
Take a chair, won't you?
I'm sorry, we're tied so closely, but it's all a question of gravity and mathematics.
I'm afraid I'm asking a great deal of you.
Do you think you can fly it to those limits?
Well, it's hard to say off hand.
The altimeter does no good at that level
but they've given me some of the best pilots in the Air Force.
So we'll see what we can do.
Have you tested the full size bomb yet?
No, it's being assembled now. I hope to try it in a week or ten days.
Do you really mean that a five ton bomb
can bounce along the water like a ping-pong ball?
It's been hard to persuade some people that it will
but I've every reason to believe it will behave exactly like those miniatures.
How far from the target do we drop the bomb?
Ah, that's the third factor that I'm afraid requires absolute accuracy.
I've got a little more work to do on it but I think it'll be 600 yards.
Did you invent this thing out of your own head?
Well... yes... I think I may say I invented it.
Well I think it's terrific.
I thought so at one time, but I'm beginning to
think that the job of inventing it was small
compared with the job of dropping it.
Well, we'll do our best.
I'm talking right in the dark at present.
If only I knew what the target was...
Yes... Well, I've told you as much as I dare.
I hope they'll tell you the rest when you get back.
Well, Gibson, there it is.
That's your main target: The Möhne dam.
So that's it. I thought it was going to be the Tirpitz.
If you can blow a hole in this wall, you'll
bring the Ruhr steel industry to a standstill
and do much other damage besides.
I'm showing you the targets
but you'll be the only man in the squadron who knows, so... keep it that way.
Very good, sir.
These are the models of the two other dams: The Eder and the Sorpe.
- But the Möhne is the most important. - I see, sir.
Come along and study these as often as you like.
We're having regular reconnaissance to see what they're doing over there
and watch the height of the water.
The operation must be carried out when the lakes are full.
When is that likely to be, sir?
About the middle of May. We'll need a good moon as well,
so it looks as though we're tied to a night between the 12th and 17th.
By the time the next full moon comes around the
water level will have started to fall again
so that's our only chance this year, about five weeks from now.
How's the training going?
Oh, pretty well, sir. Except for the low-flying.
- I guessed you'd be in trouble over that. - It's fairly easy by day,
but night-flying over water at 150 feet is pretty near impossible.
- You can't trust your altimeter? - Not at the limits that Mr Wallis wants.
He was very emphatic about flying at 150 feet exactly.
I'd hoped we could get over it by practice
but on still nights, when the water is smooth,
there's a sort of a no man's land between the dusk and the water.
I've got the Farnborough experts on that. I hope they'll come along with an idea.
Wallis is going to test the full size bomb at Reculver tomorrow.
I'd like you to go down and watch
- Take your bombing leader with you. - Right, sir.
Can I see your passes, please?
Thank you.
- Hello, Gibson. - Hello, sir.
This is Bob Hay, my bombing leader.
I'm sorry to drag you here so early. We had to catch the high tide.
It goes right out here,
so when it's low we can wade in and find the bombs
and see how they stand up to the shock of impact.
- Have you started yet? - Yes, we've dropped two already.
How did they go?
Erm, not too well, I'm afraid the casing broke. We're testing another.
Well, they're due now, any minute.
Here it comes.
It's broken again.
I'm sorry to bring you all the way here to see that.
There's no need to worry, I'll get it right.
I'm sorry, gentlemen. I shall have to strengthen the casing.
- I'll begin work at once. - Well, how long will it take?
A few days. When the tide's out, we'll
collect the fragments and see what happened.
I said all along it wouldn't work.
I'm afraid you must think me rather a fraud.
Not at all, sir.
But you know, things nearly always happen like that first
- when you're trying something new. - Yes, I'm sure they do.
- How are you getting on with the low-flying?
- It's awfully hard to get accuracy,
I mean, to within a few feet - especially at night over water.
- Still we'll find some way of doing it. - Yes, yes, it must be very difficult.
Bomb aiming is another headache, sir.
The ordinary bombsight isn't accurate enough at such a low level.
And you want the aircraft to drop that bomb dead at the same spot, one after the other.
Yes, yes, within a few feet.
We'll look after our own headaches and leave you to look after yours.
I'm afraid that's all we can do at present.
Oh, I should get it right within a few days.
- You must try and come down again. - I'd like to, sir.
- Good luck. - Good luck to you.
- And to those boys of yours. - Thanks.
The tide is going out, I must wade in and collect some of the pieces.
- Can we help? - Oh, no, no. I'm used to it.
I just feel about in the mud with my toes.
Sometimes I get a bit of bomb, sometimes it's cockles.
How are we going to fly at a level of 150 feet in the dark?
That's what I want to know.
Maybe if we left a navigator down on the end of a 150 foot wire:
When he calls out, we'll know we're too low!
No bombsight that works at low level, a bomb that falls to bits,
no way of flying at 150 feet and the raid, at all costs, in five weeks.
Otherwise, everything's marvelous.
We've got to go through London so let's have a darn good dinner
a bottle of wine, a musical with lots of dazzling girls and...
and the night train back.
Sing, soldier as you march along
Sing, sailor sing a shanty song
Let the sound float around everywhere
Soon the pilots will pick up the air
Zum-tarara!
Sing, worker make a cheerful sound...
She's nice, isn't she?
Let it ring, have your fling
Life's a bird in the spring
And sing, everybody sing
Sing, soldier as you should march along
Sing, sailor sing a shanty song
Let the sound float around everywhere
Soon the pilots will pick up the air
Zum-tarara!
Sing, worker make a cheerful sound
Sweet music makes the wheels go round
Let it ring, have your fling...
- Don't you think she's nice? - What?
- A nice kid. - Yes, quite.
Up a bit... A bit more.
Now hold it. Much too much.
Down... down...
Hold it now. Fine.
Sir, have a drink to celebrate.
- We've done the trick. - What trick?
Flying at 150 feet. No need for altimeters, no need for anything else.
- How's that? - It's simple: a couple of spotlamps.
One in the nose, the other in the belly,
trained to shine down and meet together at 150 feet below the aircraft.
Watch through the cockpit blister
and keep the two spots plumb together on the ground or the water
and there you are, at 150 feet, accurate to an inch.
Yeah, but that would mean carrying lights rights into the attack.
That's better than finishing up on the drink.
That's wonderful! How did you think of it?
Genius, pure genius! We gave the idea to Farnborough and they did the rest.
We still need a bombsight that works at low level.
When are we getting some real bombs?
It's annoying not knowing a damn thing about anything.
I know... But the old boy has got new trials
on Friday, you ought to go down again.
He's pretty sure it'll work this time.
Oh my God!
- It's a bad business, isn't it? - Yes, I'm afraid it is.
- What are you going to do?
- I know the trouble, I must work in it again.
Well, here we are, the 22nd of April...
The deadline for the raid is the 19th of May.
- That's barely four weeks. - Give me a few more days. A week, at most.
If we're going to change the design the factories will never do it in time.
I shan't change the design, I must just strengthen the casing
and try a new method of release.
Well, a week from today.
If it doesn't work then, we shall have to call it off.
There's nothing else we can do.
Hello, there.
Hello, Gibson. I was wondering if you were here.
I was watching from down there.
Why didn't you come and watch it with me here?
I knew how you must be feeling, I guessed you'd rather be alone.
It's a devil, isn't it?
Yes, it is rather.
It's most disappointing. I shall have to go all out on some modifications.
- I wonder if I could ask you to do something.
- Of course, anything I can.
Well you see, it isn't only the structure of the bomb that's the trouble,
it's in the dropping of it - we muss lessen the force of the impact.
I asked you originally if you could fly in over water and drop the bomb at 150 feet.
I wonder if you could do it at 60 feet?
- That's very low... - Oh, yes. I do realise that.
You'd only have to hiccup to finish in the drink.
Yes, I've got no right to ask you to do a thing like that
but I'm afraid it will be our only way.
We've had a bit of luck.
We've found a way of fixing our height with spotlamps.
I'll have them altered for 60 feet and have a crack at it tomorrow.
You will? That's... that's splendid.
If it's too dangerous, you mustn't hesitate to let me know.
Oh, we'll do it all right.
Down... down...
Down...
Steady...
Up a bit.
Up a bit more.
Steady.
Steady... steady...
Hold it now. Hold it, hold it.
This is bloodily dangerous!
"Sir, as a poultry farmer doing his best in the food crisis
"l wish to protest against the stupid young men
"who indulge in idiotic joy riding at all hours of the night.
"It may be good fun for them..."
"...it may be good fun for them, but I would point out that
"every time they come over our poultry houses, my hens lay premature eggs
"that drop off the perches and mess up the floor.
"This means a serious loss to both me and the country."
Sir!
You've picked up something here.
You were right about that tree, we did take the top off.
I know where it came from. I suppose we'd better send it back.
- Well, it's now or never, Mutt.
- Don't you worry, it's going to be all right.
You'd better get a move on. It's a good half hour's drive to Reculver.
Take a longer run in to be certain of that altitude.
I'll watch it.
- Well, good luck. - You pray for me, I'll pray for you.
If he doesn't hurry up, it'll be dark.
The poor chap is probably hoping it will be dark.
The time I wasted on this damn thing is driving me crazy.
It will all be over soon one way or another.
Sorry to keep you all waiting. There are so many last minute things to attend to.
Go ahead. You'd better get a move on.
Hello, Gibson.
We've had an awful day I never thought we'd do it.
These observer fellows... I felt like a man being driven out for execution.
Don't say another word till you've looked over there and wished.
- What? - New moon.
Oh!
- Have you wished? - Oh, yes! And you?
Yep. That's our moon. It's going to be a lucky one.
I hope so. Oh, I do hope so.
Well, we're all right on altitude if we can fly at 60 feet in the dark.
May dear boy, can you do that? That's absolutely splendid!
Yes, we've been at it all week.
- Here they come. - Good luck.
Oh, my dear God!
- Well, I must say, that was wonderful. - I'm immensely relieved.
- Do you smoke, Wallis? - No, thanks.
I'll get through to the factories tonight and give them the green light.
Any final instructions for them?
No, they can go ahead on the same specifications they were given last week.
Well, Mr Wallis, it must be a wonderful feeling to achieve a thing like this...
to conceive something absolutely unheard of and carry it through with flying colours.
How on Earth did you ever get the idea?
Well... To be quite honest, it isn't really my idea at all. l...
I got it from Nelson.
Nelson, you say?
Yes, he discovered that under certain conditions
he could get more destructive results from his cannon balls
by making them ricochet off the sea before hitting the enemy ships.
Usually he pitched them about two thirds of the way between his guns and the target.
But there is some evidence to suggest that during the Battle of the Nile
he dismissed the French flagship with a yorker.
Wing Commander Gibson, sir.
- Good evening, Gibson. - Good evening, sir.
I've been looking at the reconnaissance photographs that came in today.
It looks as if the water will be at the level we need in a week's time.
The moon's full next Tuesday, so we're pretty close to deadline.
We're all right on low flying, but there's still the matter of the special bombsight.
Yes, I've had the backroom boys busy on that.
You're going to laugh when you see this. It looks like a coat hanger from a bazaar.
Do you see the idea? Your bomb aimer keeps his eye to this peephole.
When these two nails are in direct alignment with the towers,
then you'll be exactly 600 yards from the wall... and away goes your bomb.
Do you think it's too simple?
No, sir. I'm all in favour of things being simple, but, Good Lord...
There it is. Try it out on the towers at the Derwent Water dam.
Bomb gone.
Bomb gone!
Well, the sixpenny bombsight works and the spotlamps work.
We've flown 2,000 hours and dropped more than 2,000 practice bombs.
The specially converted aircraft start arriving tomorrow.
So from now until the word go, practise
flying them at you're proper all-up weights.
You can work that out, Dinghy.
Don't forget that some of the armour's been taken out.
And don't exceed 63,000lbs, otherwise we shan't get off.
- Any problems? - Does the front gunner stay in his turret?
Yes, he'll have to deal with the flak guns.
The trouble is that his feet dangle in front of the bomb-aimer's face.
How about fixing up stirrups to get his feet
out of the way and make him more comfortable?
- That's a good plan. - Have you any idea when we're going, sir?
Probably within a week, but keep it under your hats.
You won't have to put up with being called the armchair squadron much longer.
Two months without an operation - it's getting a stale joke now.
There was nearly a riot when a fellow from 57th Squadron started it again.
Our fellows would feel better if they blew off steam.
All right, the next time anyone start's being funny, have a riot.
All right, that's all.
- Have you seen the squadron orders? - Yes. Same old stuff.
It's good to have an evening off for once.
Yes, 16 ops last month, 7 in the first two weeks in May.
What are you fellows going to do when you've worn those armchairs out?
It's a joke, you know. Can't you take it?
We're getting a little tired of it. Come on chaps.
Come in.
The Group Captain's asking for you, sir. He's waiting outside.
- Steady! - Let go!
- Thank you, sir. - Saved my life.
- Hello, Guy. - What's going on?
One of the boys from 57th Squadron shot his mouth off once too often.
I've just had word from Group. Weather reports are good.
If it holds like this, you'll do the job tomorrow night.
Good. What about the bombs?
They’re arriving now.
I'm glad we're going.
There's no harm telling your flight commanders, but keep it to yourselves.
Right.
I'll break up that show in there and get the boys to bed.
Fine.
- I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight. - Goodnight.
- Would you sit there, sir, please? - Yes.
Be seated gentlemen, please.
For the past six weeks you've been wondering
why this squadron has been formed...
Commander Gibson, carry on.
Well, the training's over.
For obvious reasons,
you've had to work without knowing your target or even your weapon.
You've had to put up with a good deal from other people
who think you've been having a soft time.
But tonight, you're going to have the chance
to hit the enemy harder and more destructively
than any small force has ever done before.
You're going to attack the great dams of Western Germany.
Here are your targets.
Here's the Möhne dam.
That's the Eder.
And there's the Sorpe.
All just east of the Ruhr.
Now, we shall attack in 3 formations.
The first will take the Möhne dam as its first target, then carry on to the Eder.
That will be nine aircraft in three waves, taking off ten minutes between each wave.
I'll lead the first with Hopgood and Martin.
Young leads the second
with Maltby and Shannon.
And Maudslay the third,
with Knight ans Astell.
The second formation will consist of five aircraft.
Joe McCarthy, Byers, Barlow, Rice and Munro.
They'll go by this northern route to attack the Sorpe,
and also act as a diversion to split up enemy fighters.
The third formation will follow as a mobile reserve to fill in gaps.
That will be five aircraft.
Townsend, Anderson, Brown, Ottley and Burpee.
There's a full moon tonight, so normal ops are out.
We'll be the only people flying.
And to avoid the fighters, we'll have to keep
at zero feet all the way there and back.
Any questions?
- Can I say something about the route, sir? - Yes, go ahead.
I see you've taken it very near a synthetic rubber factory at Hüls.
There's a great deal of flak around there.
It's a hot spot. We nearly got the chop there about three months ago.
Can I suggest we go a little further north?
Yes, we knew about that when we planned the route.
The trouble is, if we go much further north,
we run into another hot spot round here.
Anyway, we can take it up a little.
Now, the gap isn't too wide, so watch it, you navigators.
What about the defences on the dam, sir?
Reconnaissance show's them as being fairly light, you'll see the photos in a minute.
Any balloons, sir?
Up till yesterday, the nearest ones were around a small factory 1 2 miles away.
We don't expect any.
Sorry old boy. It's secret, you can't go in.
Come on, hop it.
Hello, Nigger, old boy. What are you doing?
Who are you looking for, eh? He's not in his office.
You'd better try somewhere else. Go on, away you go. Go on!
Hello, Nigger. No, not in here, old boy. Go on.
Hello, Nigger, old boy. What are you doing around here?
Nigger!
Well, there it is. That's what the bomb does, the rest is for you.
And may I say... good luck to you all.
The Möhne lake looks rather like a big double tooth.
These strips of water are the roots with the dam here in the crown.
Here's the Körbecke bridge where we assemble.
And here's the spit of land which gives us a head on approach for the attack.
Study these models.
Get every detail into your heads until you know them with your eyes shut.
Get these code words off by heart.
"Goner" is the word for the explosion of a bomb in the right place.
"Nigger" is the code word for a breach in the Möhne dam
and "Dinghy" for a breach in the Eder.
Do you want me, Crosby?
Er, I'm sorry, sir, it's Nigger... he's been run over. He's dead.
The car didn't even stop.
- Where did it happen? - Outside the main gate.
He run across the road and the car hit him.
- Where is he? - Ln the guard room, sir.
I see.
- Bacon and eggs for me, please. - Are you flying tonight, sir?
Am I flying?! You know perfectly well I'm the person who pays you every fortnight.
Your bread and jam is on the centre table, sir.
No harm in trying.
- We've got the wrong oil. - It was checked this morning.
No, I don't mean that oil. It's the bomb release gear.
Wallis is chasing around for the right kind.
- Can he get it? - I hope so.
- Are you flying tonight, sir? - That's the general idea.
Can I have you next egg if you don't come back?
OK, I'll have yours if you don't.
We've still got an hour.
Let's put our feet up for a bit before we change.
Not a bad idea. Come on.
- Got anything for me? - Just one, sir.
- It's only a missed bill! - I think I'll pay that tomorrow.
Thank you.
It's all right, they had some of the lighter oil in store.
- Oh, good. - They're changing it now.
- Bit of luck you noticed it. - It was my fault it wasn't made clear.
- What about some supper? - Well... I think I'll have some later.
- Does it worry you, having me about? - No, I'm jolly glad you came!
Was my talk at the briefing all right?
Oh, fine. You sold them that bomb hands down.
Coffee, sir?
Er, no, thank you.
Go on, have some. There's plenty of time.
Oh, thank you.
Evening, sir.
- Flight... - Sir?
Just a minute.
You know that Nigger was killed this afternoon?
Yes, sir. I'm very sorry.
Would you bury him at midnight on the grass verge outside my office?
Very good, sir.
I'd like you to do it at about the time we're going into the job over there.
I'll see it's done, sir.
Hello, Hoppy. Tonight's the night, tomorrow we'll have a party.
Come in.
- Laundry just in, sir. - Oh, great.
Well...
I think I'll have a clean shirt and a nice clean shave.
What do you want to shave for now?
If we have to bail out, you never know who we might meet.
There's no point in me bothering.
If we come down together and there happens to be two about, I'll get the ugly one!
- All right, sir? - Yes.
Well, chaps, my watch says time to go.
- How is she, Sergeant? - Bang on, sir.
- All set? - Yes, sir.
You've done a fine job with this team.
- I couldn't have asked for a better one. - Good luck.
Thank you, sir.
Good luck.
Come on, then.
OK, Hutch.
Pitch fully fine.
- Pitch fully fine. - Check fuel.
- Fuel OK. - Lamps 25 degrees.
- Radiator shutters automatic.
Radiator shutters automatic.
Well, I suppose there's nothing much we can do.
Except wait.
The A.O.C. is waiting to take us back to Grantham.
Send a message to Hopgood.
Heay, Sparks? P-Popsy signalling.
Martin is having a chat with Hopgood.
What's he saying, Hutch?
He says we're going to get speeches tomorrow night.
Sure we are! Biggest binge of all time.
Carry on.
- Well, Coggie, how is it going? - All right so far, sir.
The first wave is about 20 miles from the Dutch coast.
Enemy radar has probably picked them up by now.
Cheer up, Wallis. This is your night as well as theirs.
Skipper, ground speed: 203. We'll be there in one hour and ten minutes.
Will be over the Dutch coast in two minutes.
There it is now. Stand by, front gunner, we're going over.
The second wave should be coming up to the Dutch coast now.
Enemy coast ahead.
We should be on the line of the canal.
OK, I've got it.
Watch out for pylons.
- There they are. - Pylons.
At the junction, we alter course. The next thing we see in the Rhein.
This is new. Hutch, warn the others.
New course, skipper: 165, magnetic.
The northern wave have run into trouble on the coast.
McCarthy is going on the Sorpe dam by himself.
Gibson's formation should be nearly at the Möhne by now.
There's the lake now.
The main lake and the dam are off to the right.
There it is, boys.
Pretty impressive, aren't they?
Someone's woken them up. What do you think about it, Bob?
My goodness! It's big, isn't it? Can we really break that?
How many guns do you think there are, Trevor?
I say there's about ten guns.
Some in the field and some in the towers.
We've seem to upset them a bit.
P for Popsy, are you there?
OK, leader.
Hello, M-Mother. Are you there?
I'm here, leader.
- Here, leader. - Here, leader.
Here, leader.
Hello, all cooler aircraft. I'm going into attack.
Stand by to come in to your order when I tell.
Hello, M for Mother. Stand by to take over if anything happens.
OK, leader. Good luck.
Check height. Speed control, Pulford.
Gunners ready.
Coming up, Spam.
- 220. - This is fine, I can see everything.
- Down a little. - 230.
- Steady.
Down a little. - 235.
Stand by to pull me under the seat if I get hit.
- Steady... - 240.
Steady...
- Hold her steady. - 235.
- Hold that. - 240.
- 235. - That's fine.
- 235. - Bomb, gone!
Good shot! Nice work!
- Nice work, Skipper. - Bang on, Skipper.
It's gone, we've done it.
We haven't. It's still there.
Hello, M for Mother. Are you there?
Standing by, leader.
Hang on a minute, until the water comes down.
Hutch, send back codeword "Goner".
Goner...
from G-George.
That's all.
I'd hoped one bomb might do it.
Hello, M-Mother. It's your turn, you can go in now.
- Good luck. - OK, leader. Attacking!
Stand by to go in.
If he doesn't drop his bomb now it'll be too late.
He's dropped it. There it goes. Oh, they've got him!
It's from right over the top.
Hello, P for Popsy.
- Are you there? - OK, leader.
You can go right in.
I'll fly across the dam to draw the flak off you.
OK, thanks, leader.
Stand by, everyone. We're going in.
230.
- 230. - Down a bit.
- 235. - Down a bit.
- Steady... Up a bit. - 230.
It's all yours, Bob.
- 235. - Steady.
- Hold her... - 230.
- Hold her, steady. - 235.
- Hold her. - 235.
- That's fine. - 235.
Bomb gone!
The wing is hit!
Starboard out was empty, thank God.
- Bomb's gone, leader. - OK, Popsy.
Let me know when you're out of the flak.
All OK Behind.
Goner from P-Popsy.
That's all.
Hello, A-Apple. Are you ready?
OK, leader.
Let me know when you're in position and I'll draw the flak for you.
P-Popsy, are you hit?
Starboard wing, but we're all right, we can make it.
A-Apple is going to attack.
Come in on his starboard side and help me draw the flak.
OK, leader.
A-Apple making bombing run.
Goner...
from A-Apple.
That's all.
Hello, J-Johnny. Are you ready?
OK, leader.
All right, go ahead. We'll come in with you.
- Are you there, Dave? - Ready, leader.
OK. Stand by to attack.
It's gone! Look!
My God;
- Are you there, Dave? - Ready, leader.
It's all right. Skip it!
All right, boys. Nice work! You've had your look.
P-Popsy and J-Johnny, set course for home.
The rest of you come along with me.
It's Nigger! It's gone!
- You've done it, Wallis. - Well done, well done!
Congratulations!
I reckon you should be able to see it by now.
No sign of it.
Do you recognise anything, Spam?
Plenty of water... No dam yet.
Wait... there it is!
All right, Dave. You go in first.
There doesn't seem to be any flaks, but it's
not going to be easy with all these hills.
- Can you see the castle? - I've got it, leader.
That's your way in. Take your time. We've only got three bombs.
OK, leader. Going in now.
Down... down...
Down... down... down...
- We're too high. - Down...
We're too high, Skipper. We won't make it.
Steady... hold it there.
It's too late, Skipper. It's too late.
Sorry, leader. Made a mess of that.
- I'll try again.
- All right, Dave. You hang around for a bit.
- Hello, Z-Zebra. Are you there? - Here, leader. I've got the target.
All right, you can go in now. There's no flak, but watch those hills.
Take your time and mind the mountain on the other side.
- OK, leader. I'm going in. - Good luck.
He's left it too late.
Hello, Z-Zebra. Are you all right?
I think so, leader. Stand by.
Goner Z-Zebra.
That leaves two more.
Cocoa, sir?
- Sir? - No.
Are you in touch with the reserve formation?
All except Burpee, sir. He hasn't answered for some time.
Goner, L-Leather.
OK, Dave. Bang on but you didn't break it.
Hello, N for Nuts. Are you ready to make your attack?
- Ready, leader.
Come in down and dive for the point, Les.
Get off the air, Dave. You've got the last bomb, Les, so take your time.
Good luck.
Down... down... Steady... hold it...
A little bit more...
That's fine, steady...
Steady... bomb gone!
It's Dinghy! They've done it! They've got the Eder dam as well!
Wallis, when you first came to me with this I didn't believe a word you said.
Now, you can sell me a pink elephant!
All right boys, home.
They know we're here now so keep your eyes open.
'This is London.
'The Air Ministry have just issued the following communiqué.
'ln early hours of this morning, a force of Lancasters of Bomber Command
'led by Wing Commander G. P. Gibson, D.S.O., D.F.C.
'attacked with mines the dams of the Möhne and Sorpe reservoirs.
'These controlled two-thirds of the water storage capacity of the Ruhr basin.
'Reconnaissance later established that the Möhne dam
'had been breached over a length of 100 yards
'and that the power station below had been swept away by the resulting floods.
'The Eder dam, which controls the head-waters of the Weser and Fulda valleys
'and operates several power stations, was also attacked and reported as breached.
'Photographs show the river below the dam in full flood.
'The attacks were pressed home from a very low level
'with great determination and coolness in the face of fierce resistance.
'Eight of the Lancasters are missing.'
Is it true? All those fellows lost?
Only two aircrafts went down in the attacks.
That was Hopgood's over the Möhne and Maudslay's over the Eder.
Astell got it soon after crossing the coast
and Dinghy Young was shot down over the sea on his way home.
The rest we don't know about.
They've been calling them since midnight but they haven't answered.
The flak was bad, worse than I expected.
56 men... If I'd known it was going to be like this, I'd never have started it.
You mustn't think that way.
If these fellows had known they wouldn't be coming back they'd have gone just the same.
There isn't a single one of them that would have dropped out.
I knew them all, I know that's true.
Look, you've had a worse night than any of us
Why don't you go and find a doctor and ask for one of his sleeping pills?
Aren't you going to turn in, Gibby?
No, I... I have to write some letters first.
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