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617 Squadron crest and signatures
A 617 Squadron crest with signatures of some of the crews that took part. There is a brief explanation of Operation Chastise.
The routes to the dams
A sketch map of the routes taken by 617 squadron to the four dams. It indicates where Lancasters were shot down.
Flight Lieutenant John Vere Hopgood DFC & Bar
Head and shoulders portrait of an RAF officer wearing tunic with pilot's brevet and peaked cap. Captioned 'F/Lt John Vere Hopgood DFC & Bar, 106 and 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, Shot down while bombing the Moehne [sic] Dam 16/17 May 1943'.
Edersee dam rebuilt
A post-war colour photograph of the rebuilt dam at Edersee.
Edersee dam
The remains of Edersee dam after the bombing. Repairs have commenced.
Marmorbad, Kassel
The Marmorbad and Orangerie, flooded, at Kassel.
On the reverse 'Karlswiesse - Duke Charles Field Kassel 18 May 1943. Small building Marmorbad Marble Baths (formerly the Duke's bath house) Larger building The Orangie - The Duke's Conservatory. Both…
On the reverse 'Karlswiesse - Duke Charles Field Kassel 18 May 1943. Small building Marmorbad Marble Baths (formerly the Duke's bath house) Larger building The Orangie - The Duke's Conservatory. Both…
Kassel flooded
A view of the centre of Kassel, flooded after the breaching of the dams.
On the reverse 'Approx 1000 ft to left of Orangie, flooded Hessen Kampfbahn sportsfield. 18 May 43. Houses and factories in background destroyed 3 Oct 43 raid'.
On the reverse 'Approx 1000 ft to left of Orangie, flooded Hessen Kampfbahn sportsfield. 18 May 43. Houses and factories in background destroyed 3 Oct 43 raid'.
Edersee dam
A view of the dam without the breach.
Edersee dam breached
A photograph taken not long after the breaching of the Edersee dam.
Letter to Mrs Hopgood from Guy Gibson
Confirms previous telegram that her son was killed in action on night of 16/17 May 1943. Two versions of the letter.
John Hopgood DFC and bar
On the right. Head and shoulders portrait of an RAF officer wearing tunic with pilot's brevet and peaked cap. Captioned 'F/Lt John Vere Hopgood DFC and bar, 106 Squadron & 617 Squadrons, shot down while bombing Moehne [sic] Dam 16/17 May 1943'.…
Telegram from Wing Commander Guy Gibson to Mrs G Hopgood
![EGibsonGPHopgood[Mrs]430517-0001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/2969/53162/EGibsonGPHopgood[Mrs]430517-0001.jpg "EGibsonGPHopgood[Mrs]430517-0001.jpg")
Informing her that her son was missing as a result of air operations on night 16/17 May 1943. Offers profound sympathy. Signed OC 617 Squadron.
Affoldern (Eder Dam)
Vertical aerial photograph showing floodwater from the breeched Eder Dam surrounding buildings and covering roads. Reverse of image annotated '17-5-43 Affoldern (Eder) Eder Dam flooding'.
Affoldern (Eder Dam)
Vertical aerial photograph showing fields, forest, roads, two areas of buildings and floodwater. Remains of bridges visible in the floodwater. Reverse of the image annotated 'Affoldern (Eder Dam) 19-5-43'.
Letter to George Thomson from his mother
![EThomson[Fam]ThomsonGB430525.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/1157/51579/EThomson[Fam]ThomsonGB430525.jpg "EThomson[Fam]ThomsonGB430525.pdf")
Acknowledges his latest letter and glad to know he was well and relieved that raider had not been near him. Comments on Nazi difficulties in repairing dams. Mentions recent Shirley Temple film she had seen. Mentions war in desert. Asks if he was…
Sorpe Dam
Vertical aerial photograph of Sorpe Dam with the caption 'Pre-raid photograph of the Sorpe Dam used to check water levels before The Dambuster raid on 16th/17th May 1943'.
Wing Commander Guy Gibson with Vice-President Henry Wallace
Guy Gibson shaking hands with Vice-President Wallace at the 12th Forum on Current Problems, sponsored by the NY Herald-Tribune. The photograph is captioned 'Acme Newspictures inc photograph of Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC DSO* DFC* On an American…
Eder Dam
Vertical aerial photograph with two images of the Eder Dam captioned 'Photographs of the Eder Dam taken on 18th May 1943, thirty hours after the attack by 617 sqdn. Taken by F/O D G Scott in Spitfire PRX1 serial EN411 of 542 sqdn. (double photo…
Affoldern
Vertical reconnaissance photograph of floodwater at Affoldern captioned 'Reconnaissance photo showing the flood water from the breached Eder Dam at Affoldern two and a half miles downstream'. The image is annotated 'AFFOLDERN (2½ miles downstream…
Fröndenberg
Vertical reconnaissance photograph of flooding following Operation Chastise. Captioned 'Frodenberg [Fröndenberg] 13 miles down stream from the Mohne Dam showing the flood water after the Dambuster raid on on 16th 17th May 1943 photo taken by F/O F…
Breached Mohne Dam
Vertical reconnaissance photograph captioned 'Breached Mohne Dam After the dams raid 16th 17th May 1943'. An interpretation with the title 'Results of the RAF attack on the Mohne and Eder Dams' is pasted to the reverse of the print.
Avro Lancaster Mk 1
A detailed information sheet from 'Grace' airplanes including a history of the Lancaster, comparison with American bombers and photos of a 50 Squadron Lancaster.
Telegram to DJH Maltby from Arthur Harris
The telegram congratulates him on the award of a DSO.
Telegram to DJH Maltby
![E[Author]PMaltbyDJH430523.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/787/47003/E[Author]PMaltbyDJH430523.jpg "E[Author]PMaltbyDJH430523.jpg")
The telegram congratulates him from Coningsby and Woodhall.
Telegram to Flight Lieutenant Maltby
![E[Author]MaltbyDJH430524-0001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/square_thumbnails/787/46997/E[Author]MaltbyDJH430524-0001.jpg "E[Author]MaltbyDJH430524-0001.jpg")
A telegram to DJH Maltby congratulating him on award of DSO.
On the reverse 'Telegram from Guy Gibson VC'.
On the reverse 'Telegram from Guy Gibson VC'.