Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the “Dambusters”.
The Dambusters was an elite Lancaster bomber unit and the Operation Chastise raid was led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC, with the bombers using a unique bouncing bomb developed by Dr.Barnes Wallis.
Three Dams were attacked; The Möhne, the Edersee and the Sorpe.
The results included catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley, Two hydroelectric power-plants destroyed, with several more damaged. Some factories and mines were also either damaged or destroyed, with about 1600 deaths.
19 Planes took part in this raid, and only 9 returned. 53 aircrew were killed and 3 were taken prisoner.
However, another report states that Eleven Returned and Eight did not Return
- Crashed after hitting large-scale power lines outbound.
- Crashed after hitting large-scale power lines outbound.
- Shot down over the Dutch coast outbound.
- Shot down over the Netherlands outbound.
- Shot down over Germany outbound.
- Shot down over the target while attacking.
- Shot down over the Dutch coast while returning.
- Shot down over Germany while trying to return.
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